Accused in minor boy’s rape and murder killed in police encounter in Hardoi

A man accused of the rape and murder of a young boy has been killed in a police encounter in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. The incident took place in the Mallawan area on Wednesday morning. The accused, identified as Mehnoor, was 32 years old and had been on the run after the crime.

Police said that Mehnoor was wanted for the sexual assault and killing of a seven-year-old boy. His body was found earlier in a maize field in Matiyamau village. The case had shocked the local community and led to a large police search operation.

According to officials, a joint team of local police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) tracked the accused based on a tip-off. They surrounded him in an attempt to arrest him. However, the situation turned violent when the accused allegedly opened fire at the police team.

Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Meena said that the police acted in self-defence. The officers returned fire, and Mehnoor was seriously injured during the exchange. He was taken to a district hospital but later died from his injuries.

During the encounter, a senior SOG officer, Rajesh Kumar, was also injured. He was hit during the firing and is now receiving treatment at the hospital. His condition has not been described as critical, but he is under medical care.

How the encounter happened

Police officials said they had received specific information about the accused’s location. Based on this input, they quickly formed a team and reached the spot. The area was surrounded to prevent the accused from escaping.

Officers asked Mehnoor to surrender, but instead of giving himself up, he reportedly fired at the police. This led to a gunfight between the accused and the police team. The officers then fired back to protect themselves.

After the firing stopped, the accused was found injured. He was immediately taken to the hospital, where doctors tried to save him. However, he later died due to his injuries.

At the scene of the encounter, police recovered weapons and other items. These included a .32 bore pistol, a .315 bore country-made gun, several cartridges, and a motorcycle. These items are now part of the investigation.

Officials said that the encounter was carried out following proper procedure. They also confirmed that the case will be reviewed as per standard rules.

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Details of the crime

The incident is linked to a serious crime that took place earlier in the week. The body of a seven-year-old boy was found in a maize field in Matiyamau village. Police believe the child was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and then murdered.

The case caused anger and fear among local residents. Police began a search operation soon after the body was discovered. During the investigation, Mehnoor was identified as the main suspect.

According to police, the accused tried to mislead the investigation. He allegedly used a stolen SIM card to call the victim’s family and demand ransom money. Police believe this was done to make the crime look like a kidnapping for money instead of a sexual crime.

This move, however, did not work for long. Investigators were able to gather evidence and identify the suspect. After that, teams were sent to different locations to find and arrest him.

Police also said that Mehnoor had a criminal history. He was described as a habitual offender with around twelve cases registered against him in different districts. This made him a high-risk suspect.

After the child’s body was found, senior police officials took the case seriously. The Inspector General of Police for the Lucknow Range announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to the arrest of the accused.

The encounter has now ended the search for the suspect, but the case remains sensitive. Police are continuing their investigation to complete all legal procedures and gather full details of the crime.

In simple terms, the accused in a very serious crime was located by the police but was killed after a gunfight when he allegedly attacked officers. One policeman was also injured in the incident.

Such cases often raise questions and emotions in society. While the police say they acted in self-defence, further review will follow as per legal rules.

For now, the focus remains on completing the investigation and ensuring justice for the victim.