SULTANPUR: A Rs 1 lakh reward criminal accused in multiple serious offences, including gang rape, was killed in a police encounter in Sultanpur district. The deceased, identified as Azam Khan alias Talib, was wanted in at least 17 criminal cases across districts and had been on the run for a prolonged period.
Police said the 26-year-old was tracked following specific intelligence inputs indicating his presence in Sultanpur and plans to execute another crime. Acting on the tip-off, joint teams from Sultanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri districts launched a coordinated operation and set up a blockade near the Diara bridge under the Lambhua police station limits.
According to officials, when Azam approached the checkpoint on a motorcycle, he was signalled to stop for questioning. Instead, he allegedly opened fire at the police team in an attempt to flee. The police retaliated in self-defence, during which Azam sustained gunshot injuries. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his wounds while being taken for treatment.
Confirming the details, Sultanpur Superintendent of Police Kunwar Anupam Singh said Azam son of Gaffar Khan and a resident of Gauriya village under Fardhan police station in Lakhimpur Kheri was a notorious offender whose movements had been under close surveillance. “The criminal fired upon the police team, leaving them with no option but to respond in self-defence. All legal formalities are being completed, and further action is being taken strictly in accordance with the law,” the SP said.
Police records indicate that Azam faced 17 registered cases, including charges of gang rape, across Lakhimpur Kheri and Gola. His alleged criminal history and repeated absconding had placed him high on the wanted list, with a reward of Rs 1 lakh announced for information leading to his arrest.
The encounter adds to a series of operations conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Police in recent months. With this incident, the number of criminals killed in encounters in the state has risen to 15 in the past 100 days nearly one encounter per week reflecting what authorities describe as a sustained offensive against hardened offenders.
State government data shows that between March 2017 and October 2025, the Uttar Pradesh Police conducted over 15,000 encounters. During this period, 259 criminals were killed, more than 31,000 were arrested, and over 10,000 sustained bullet injuries. Officials maintain that each operation is carried out based on actionable intelligence and within the framework of the law, while opposition voices and civil rights groups continue to call for transparency and judicial scrutiny.
