Varanasi: A key suspect in the ambush and killing of a 22-year-old groom during baraat in UP’s Jaunpur on May 1 was shot dead in an encounter early Monday, police said.An SHO suffered a hand injury while a bullet struck the bulletproof jacket of another cop during the encounter in Ranimau area in which suspect Ravi Yadav was killed, the police said.According to SP Kunwar Anupam Singh, a team of cops had set up a cordon in Ranimau after a tip-off and attempted to stop two bike-borne men. “Finding themselves surrounded, the suspects opened fire on the police team,” Singh said.During retaliatory firing by the cops, Ravi was shot while his accomplice managed to flee, the SP said. Police seized a firearm from Ravi and rushed him, along with the injured SHO, to hospital where doctors declared the accused dead.Ravi was arrayed as key accused alongside Pradeep Bind and Bhole Rajbhar in the killing of groom Azad Bind. Azad was shot by three masked men on a bike as his baraat procession made its way through Jaunpur’s Badshahi Bazar area on May 1. Azad died in hospital later.Pradeep and Bhole are still absconding, with the cops announcing a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to their arrests. Three other suspects allegedly involved in the killing were held after an encounter on May 4. Eight others were held for helping the killers of Azad escape.
