Murder accused shot dead in encounter by Delhi, U.P. police teams

A history-sheeter wanted in connection with several murder cases and other heinous crimes in the Capital and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh was killed in an encounter in Meerut on Saturday morning, the police said.

The operation was conducted jointly by Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) and Delhi Police’s Special Cell.

Sonu Matka, 39, a member of the Hashim Baba gang that has influence in Delhi and adjoining areas, was also involved in the killing of a man and his nephew in the national capital’s Farsh Bazar area on Deepavali night this year, said an officer.

The Delhi police had announced a reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to Sonu’s arrest

“We had received a tip-off on Saturday morning that Sonu will go back to his village in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat, after which police teams began following him,” DCP (Special Cell) Pratiksha Godara said.

The officer said the gangster fired at the police teams after being surrounded.

‘Died in retaliatory fire’

“The police retaliated in self-defence. He got injured in the retaliatory firing and was taken to a hospital where he died,” the DCP said.

The STF Additional Director General, Amitabh Yash, said Sonu was involved in several heinous crimes in Delhi-NCR. “He had committed many murders and armed robberies. He studied up to Class 8 and earlier worked as a motor mechanic. He was released from jail in 2021,” he added. 

“During the encounter, he suffered critical injuries and subsequently succumbed to them while undergoing treatment,” Mr. Yash said.

According to Delhi police officers, two sophisticated pistols and 10 live rounds were seized from him.

Published - December 15, 2024 01:03 am IST