HAPUR/NEW DELHI, May 29 — A sharpshooter affiliated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was killed in an encounter late Wednesday night during a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) and Delhi Police’s Special Cell, officials said Thursday.
The accused, Naveen Kumar, had a long criminal record and was wanted in several cases, including murder and charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). He was gunned down in the Hapur Kotwali area after a brief exchange of fire with law enforcement personnel.
“In a joint operation by the Noida unit of STF and the Delhi Police Special Cell, our teams engaged in an armed confrontation with the accused,” said ADGP (STF) Amitabh Yash in an official statement. “Naveen Kumar sustained serious injuries in the encounter and was rushed to a local hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.”
According to a senior police official, Kumar’s criminal history dates back to 2008 when he was first booked under the Arms Act at Delhi’s Seemapuri police station. A year later, he was involved in a murder case in Sahibabad. By 2010, he had been charged under the Gangster Act in Uttar Pradesh.
Police sources said Kumar remained active in gangland operations and was closely linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi network, which has been under increased scrutiny following its involvement in high-profile criminal activities across multiple states.
The operation marks a significant development in ongoing efforts to crack down on organized crime in the National Capital Region and western Uttar Pradesh.
