3 pro-Khalistan terrorists gunned down in encounter in Pilibhit: UP Police

Two AK-47 assault rifles and two Glock pistols along with a huge cache of ammunition were recovered from the terrorists.

Updated on: Dec 23, 2024, 14:11:56 IST

By Rohit Kumar Singh

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Three alleged pro-Khalistan terrorists were on Monday gunned down in retaliatory firing during an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Punjab Police in UP’s Sikh dominated Pilibhit district in the wee hours of the day, senior police officials confirmed in Lucknow.

The police display the arms haul after the encounter.

Two AK-47 assault rifles and two Glock pistols along with a huge cache of ammunition were recovered from the terrorists.

UP Police Additional Director General (law and order) Amitabh Yash said the three deceased were identified as Gurwinder Singh (25), Virendra Singh alias Ravi (23), and Jasan Preet Singh alias Pratap Singh (18), all residents of Gurdaspur in Punjab. He said the three were part of the Khalistani Commando Force and were hiding in Pilibhit after their involvement in the attack on a police outpost in Gurdaspur with grenades and bombs on December 18 recently.

He said the police team entered in cross firing with the three alleged terrorists when they opened firing on police officers after finding themselves surrounded under Puranpur police station limits in Pilibhit. He said the trio was injured in retaliation and were rushed to a local hospital where they succumbed to their bullet wounds.

The ADG said the bodies of the deceased have been sent for postmortem examination after informing their family members in Punjab. He said the police are further trying to collect more details about their whereabouts and identify Khalistani supporters, who provided them shelter in Pilibhit.

As many as 215 criminals and terrorists have been killed in police encounters in UP since the BJP came to power in the state in March 2017.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rohit Kumar Singh
Rohit Kumar Singh is a senior journalist based in Lucknow and currently serves as Special Correspondent and City Chief with Hindustan Times. With over 25 years of experience in journalism, he specialises in investigative reporting, with a strong focus on crime, policing, internal security, terrorism, governance and public policy in Uttar Pradesh. He began his journalism career in 2000 and joined Hindustan Times in June 2008 after working with The Daily Pioneer and Sahara Samay. Over the years, he has produced numerous high-impact investigative and exclusive reports on organised crime, terrorism, law enforcement, politics, governance and public administration. Rohit has extensively covered major criminal investigations, terror incidents, elections, police reforms, anti-terror operations, corruption, communal violence and other sensitive security issues. His reporting is recognised for its accuracy, depth, strong sourcing and analytical approach, making him one of the most respected journalists covering the police and internal security beat in Uttar Pradesh. Throughout his career, he has consistently delivered stories that have shaped public discourse, exposed systemic lapses and promoted accountability in governance and law enforcement. He continues to focus on public-interest journalism, combining investigative reporting with in-depth analysis of issues that impact governance and public safety.Read More

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