On the evening of October 5, police in Firozabad shot and killed a notorious criminal, Naresh Pandit, also known as Pankaj. The 38-year-old had a lengthy criminal record, including charges of robbery and dacoity. The encounter took place around 8 pm in the Makhanpur police station area. ASP Rural Anuj Chaudhary narrowly escaped harm during the incident, while SHO Ramgarh Sanjeev Dubey sustained injuries.
The encounter began when police spotted Naresh Pandit, who had earlier escaped during a recovery operation. As officers approached, Naresh opened fire. A bullet hit ASP Anuj Chaudhary’s bulletproof jacket, while SHO Sanjeev Dubey sustained injuries. Police retaliated, shooting Naresh in the chest. He was rushed to the district hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The encounter, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, involved ASP Anuj Chaudhary, police teams from Shikohabad, Makhanpur, and Ramgarh stations, as well as the SOG unit led by CO Praveen Tiwari.
Naresh had a total of nine criminal cases registered against him, including charges of robbery and dacoity. On September 30, he was involved in the looting of a GK Company cash van, making off with Rs 2 crore while the vehicle was en route from Kanpur to Agra. Police later arrested six of his accomplices, recovering around Rs 1 crore in cash and two vehicles used in the crime. SSP Saurabh Dixit and the DIG had announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to Naresh’s capture.
SP Rural Anuj Chaudhary escaped unharmed, thanks to his bulletproof jacket, which stopped a bullet during the exchange. However, SHO Ramgarh Sanjeev Dubey sustained injuries and was admitted to the hospital for treatment.
ASP Anuj Chaudhary: Olympian turned police officer
ASP Anuj Chaudhary is not just a decorated police officer but also a former Indian freestyle wrestler and Olympian. Belonging to the 2012 batch of the Provincial Police Service, Chaudhary’s unique transition from international sports to law enforcement has made him a standout figure in the Uttar Pradesh Police. Joining the state police force through the sports quota in 2012, Chaudhary made history recently by becoming the first police officer recruited under this quota to be promoted to the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police. This milestone earned him considerable recognition within the force and the state government.
Under the Yogi Adityanath administration, he was initially promoted to Deputy SP and posted in Chandauli before taking on his current role as Additional SP (Rural) in Firozabad district. During his tenure in Sambhal, ASP Anuj Chaudhary played a key role in controlling communal violence and restoring law and order. His swift action and strategic deployment of forces were widely acknowledged by senior officials.
Recent police encounters in Uttar Pradesh
Naresh Pandit’s death marks the third police encounter in Uttar Pradesh within the past eight days.
October 3: Mehboob, a criminal with a Rs 1 lakh bounty, was killed in Budhana, Muzaffarnagar.
September 28: Naeem Qureshi, also carrying a Rs 1 lakh reward, was gunned down by Muzaffarnagar police.
From March 2017 to July 2025, Uttar Pradesh Police have carried out over 14,000 encounters, resulting in the deaths of 238 criminals, more than 30,000 arrests, and over 9,000 criminals injured in shootouts.
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