In a significant breakthrough, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on August 7, gunned down two contract killers — Raju alias Rizwan Khan and Sanjay alias Akeel Khan — in an encounter in Sitapur district. The two were real brothers and had been wanted in connection with the murder of journalist Raghavendra Vajpayee earlier this year.
According to official reports, the STF team had received credible intelligence that the two suspects had been spotted in the Piswa area of Sitapur. Acting on this tip-off, the STF launched a search operation in the locality. During the operation, the police team noticed two individuals riding a motorcycle who matched the description of the suspects.
When the STF signalled them to stop, the duo opened fire on the police in an attempt to escape. The STF team retaliated, resulting in both suspects being critically injured in the exchange of gunfire. They were immediately taken to the district hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead.
Rizwan and Akeel were the prime accused in the sensational murder case of journalist Raghavendra Vajpayee, who was shot dead on March 8 this year. During the police investigation, it was revealed that the murder had been a contract killing. The mastermind behind the crime was identified as Shivanand Baba alias Vikas Rathore, who had hired Rizwan and Akeel to eliminate Vajpayee.
Both Rizwan and Akeel were known history-sheeters with a long criminal record. They hailed from Atawa village, located in the Mishrikh police station area of Sitapur. Their involvement in multiple cases of contract killing and other serious crimes had made them notorious figures in the region’s criminal underworld.
The encounter has been described by officials as a major success for the STF in its ongoing crackdown on organised crime and contract killings in the state. Senior police officials confirmed that the case related to the murder of journalist Raghavendra Vajpayee is now nearing closure, with all key accused either arrested or neutralised.
