In a significant breakthrough, Uttar Pradesh police have apprehended Abdul Rahim, one of the main accused in the killing of 19-year-old NEET aspirant Deepak Gupta. Rahim was arrested during a joint police operation in Kushinagar after he reportedly opened fire on the police, resulting in a retaliatory shot that injured his leg. Along with Rahim, two other suspects, Chhotu and Raju, have also been detained and are currently being questioned by authorities.

The tragic incident unfolded early Monday morning when cattle smugglers targeted a village near Gorakhpur. Around 3 a.m., local residents witnessed two vehicles sneaking into the area, where the smugglers untied livestock from sheds and began loading them onto their trucks. When alarm was raised, villagers including Deepak gave chase. During the pursuit, the smugglers allegedly forced Deepak into their vehicle and assaulted him severely. His body was later found with grave head injuries approximately four kilometers from his home.

Though villagers insist Deepak was shot during the encounter, police officials speculate that the fatal injury may have occurred when he was pushed off the vehicle. The post-mortem report confirmed the cause of death as a coma resulting from an ante-mortem head injury.

Following Deepak’s death, joint efforts by police from Gorakhpur and Kushinagar led to Rahim’s arrest. Senior Superintendent of Police Raj Karan Nayyar stated, “Another accused, Rahim, was wanted by the police and has been arrested in a joint operation by Pipraich police and Kushinagar police. The accused opened fire on the police team, and in the retaliatory fire, he was shot in the leg and was arrested.” Another accused, Ajab Hussain, was captured by villagers and is currently hospitalised.

The authorities have launched a massive manhunt for two additional suspects who remain at large. To incentivise their capture, police have announced a reward. So far, four suspects have been arrested in connection with this case.

The incident has sparked intense outrage among locals, leading to protests demanding justice. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath promptly responded by ordering strict action against those responsible. Meanwhile, six policemen stationed at the Jungle Dhoosar police outpost were suspended for alleged negligence related to the case.

However, the police encounter has drawn criticism from political leaders. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the legitimacy of the police action during a press briefing. “When I was the CM, I never visited Saifai as frequently as the current CM visits his district of Gorakhpur. This encounter is just a show. They can only improve policing by appointing good officers, but instead, they give charge to officers based on caste,” he said. Yadav also hinted that the encounter was anticipated, citing a message from an officer heading to Gorakhpur ahead of the operation.

The police continue their efforts to ensure all those involved in this brutal crime are brought to justice.