Tuesday, November 8 2005 11:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Etawah (UP): Dreaded dacoit Nirbhay Singh Gujjar, who was synonymous with terror in the Chambal ravines for nearly three decades, was last night (Nov 7, 2005) gunned down by Uttar Pradesh Police's Task Force in a gun battle in a dense forest of Etawah district, senior police officials said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (STF) Akhil Kumar, who led the operation against 47-year-old Gujjar, carrying a reward of Rs two lakh on his head, said the encounter lasted for over one and half hours after which the police recovered the body from the scene which was identified as that of the dacoit by a local resident.

Kumar said the entire operation against Gujjar, who was wanted in more than 175 criminal cases, including those of murder and kidnapping, in the state, was kept a closely guarded secret and that was one of the reasons for its success.

He said there were five to six members of the gang when the encounter had broken out at Sitapur village under Ajitmal police station. The fate of the other gang members could not be immediately ascertained.

Kumar said a combing operation would be launched in the area once police reinforcements arrived at the scene.

Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary Alok Sinha said in Lucknow that Gujjar was shot dead in the encounter with STF in the jungles of Sitapur village.

Gujjar, who had created a reign of terror in the districts of eastern and central UP and also those of Madhya Pradesh bordering UP, had become a consummate folk anti-hero whose name was invoked by mothers in the state to put recalcitrant children to sleep.

Kumar, however, said a thorough identification would be conducted today (Nov 8, 2005) but hastened to add that the body resembled Nirbhay.

He said acting on a tip off, an STF team intercepted the gang in a thick forest near Ajitmal triggering an exchange of fire between the police and the dacoits. Kumar said two rifles of 303 bore were recovered from the slain dacoit against whom as many as 175 cases of kidnapping, murder, extortion and dacoity were pending.

Gujjar used to operate in a vast swathe of territory ranging from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh to Bhind in Madhya Pradesh.