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Thokia Gang Strikes
Six STF jawans, informer killed

Chitrakoot (UP), July 23
Six men of UP’s Special Task Force (STF) and a police informer were killed and seven other STF jawans injured when Thokia gang dacoits fired at them, the night after the force gunned down dreaded bandit Dadua and 11 of his gang members.

The dacoits opened indiscriminate fire on the jeep in which the jawans were returning after an encounter with the gang late last night in Kusumhia forests here, police sources here said.

The deceased were identified as Rajesh Chauhan, Uma Shankar Yadav, Brajesh Yadav, Girja Nagar, Luxman, Iswar (all STF jawans) and Munna (informer).

The bodies were brought to Kotwali in the neighbouring Banda district and senior police officials, including DGP Vikram Singh, rushed to Banda from Lucknow.

The STF had killed Shiv Kimar Patel, alias Dadua, and several of his accomplices in the Jhawal forests in this district on Sunday morning. He was also described as 'Veerappan of the North' and carried Rs 5 lakh on his head.

The STF had also last evening killed a member of the Thokia gang in an encounter near the forests. Thokia carries a reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the deceased jawans, the sources said.

Giving details of the incident, STF inspector-general D.K. Jain said the members of the force were fired upon by the Thokia gang at around 11.30 pm hours yesterday when they were returning with the body of the dacoit after the encounter. — PTI