Lucknow: A wanted sharpshooter in the murder of a property dealer was killed in an encounter with UP STF in Lucknow on early Saturday.Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanjay alias Sanju, 47, carried a reward of Rs one lakh. He was the main shooter in the May 27 murder of propety dealer Sandeep Singh, 35, in Lucknow SGPGI area. Sanjeev was allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh for the murder.STF tracked and intercepted him near the Kisan Path under the BBD police station around 4:10am. A known contract killer with links to the Dilip Verma and Khan Mubarak gangs, Sanjeev had been on the run after Sandeep’s murder.Police said the murder stemmed from a property dispute. The STF had earlier arrested Sandeep’s rival builder Dinesh Yadav and his driver Mubeen, who allegedly planned the murder.Police learnt that Mubeen, through middleman Gangaram Yadav, who has been arrested, hired two shooters for ₹10 lakh each to carry out the murder. While Sanjeev was the main gunman, the second shooter—who rode the motorcycle used in the crime—remains on the run.Acting on specific intelligence that Sanjeev had returned to Lucknow and was planning another contract hit, STF teams laid a multi-point trap along Kisan Path. Around 3:50am, an informer spotted him riding an unnumbered motorcycle. When challenged, he allegedly fled towards Sultanpur Road, triggering a chase that lasted nearly 2-3km.Police said Sanjeev lost control near the Juggaur turn, took cover behind bushes and opened indiscriminate fire. One bullet struck head constable Alok Ranjan’s bulletproof jacket, while two others narrowly missed senior officers. Despite repeated warnings to surrender, he continued firing.“Seeing him repeatedly attempting to take aim, STF personnel retaliated in controlled self-defence,” said Additional SP (STF) Deepak Kumar. Sanjeev was critically injured and rushed to RMLIMS, where he was declared dead.A native of Ambedkar Nagar, Sanjeev had a long criminal record spanning multiple districts, including murder, attempt to murder, robbery and dacoity. He spent nearly 12 years in jail before being released in 2023, after which he allegedly resumed contract killings.The STF recovered a .30-bore pistol, a carbine, the motorcycle and a backpack from him. Officials said his killing not only cracks the PGI murder case wide open but is expected to yield crucial leads on the absconding shooter and the wider contract killing network operating in the region.
