UP Crime (Freepik)
In a dramatic turn of events, Noida police apprehended three suspects on Friday night following an encounter. The accused, identified as Lucky Rathore, Satyam Yadav, and Saurabh Rajput, sustained injuries during the shootout and were subsequently hospitalized. According to police reports, the trio orchestrated the attack to settle an old dispute that arose during a cricket match.
The incident came to light when Lalaram, a resident of Sorakha village, reported his 20-year-old son, Ajay Kumar, missing. Ajay had gone to play cricket near the vendor zone in Sector 65, Noida, on February 5. After stepping away to use a public toilet, he disappeared. The next day, Lalaram received distressing news that his son had been found near a highway in Bareilly, critically injured with a gunshot wound to the head. Family members rushed to the hospital and brought Ajay back to Noida for advanced treatment, where doctors successfully removed the lodged bullet.
Upon regaining consciousness, Ajay provided a chilling account of his ordeal. He claimed that Lucky Rathore, Satyam Yadav, and Saurabh Rajput abducted him near the toilet, forced him into a vehicle, and drove to an unknown location before shooting him in the head.
Following Ajay’s testimony, police launched an intensive manhunt for the suspects. On Friday night, officers at Transport Nagar checkpoint spotted a suspicious vehicle without a license plate. When signaled to stop, the occupants opened fire on the police and attempted to escape. The chase ended near Garhi Gol Chakkar, where all three suspects were shot in the legs during the encounter.
The arrested individuals were identified as national-level cricketer Lucky Rathore from Gupalapur, Jalaun district; Saurabh Chauhan from Bamhauri, Aligarh district; and Satyam Yadav from Chhijarsi village, Sector 63, Noida. Police recovered three illegal firearms, six live cartridges, Ajay’s stolen mobile phone, and the rental car used in the crime.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that Lucky Rathore ran a cricket academy near Parthala, where Ajay and other players practiced. An altercation between Lucky and Ajay occurred months ago after Lucky allegedly made inappropriate remarks about him. Seeking revenge, Lucky conspired with Saurabh and Satyam to abduct and eliminate Ajay.
The trio rented a car through an app to execute their plan. On February 5, they convinced Ajay to join them for an outing. Once inside the car, they seized his mobile phone and drove toward Bareilly under the pretense of visiting Nainital. Upon reaching an isolated spot, Saurabh attempted to shoot Ajay, but the gun misfired. On a second attempt, he successfully shot Ajay in the head, assuming he was dead before fleeing the scene.
The police have registered a case against the accused, and further investigation is underway.
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