STF mourns fallen veteran: Injured in gunbattle with UP gang, Inspector dies

Kumar, 53, was deed by 3 bullets successful the abdomen during a gunfight betwixt 11 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. Monday astatine the Bidoli-Chausana Road successful the Jhinjhana area, the UP STF said successful a statement. He was taken to Amritdhara Hospital successful Karnal, wherever doctors referred him to the Medanta Hospital successful Gurgaon. He underwent a six-hour country Tuesday.

According to sources, Kumar, who was starring a squad of 12 constabulary personnel, was not wearing a bullet-proof overgarment erstwhile the gunfight broke out. Neither was anyone other successful the team.

Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General of Police, UP STF, Law and Order, said, “He was 1 of the bravest successful the team. He died successful the enactment of duty, but volition support encouraging us.”

Recalling his seven-year relation with Kumar, Yash told The Indian Express that helium was overmuch admired successful the unit and had a large consciousness of humour. “He was an perfect for galore successful the squad and was respected and loved by everyone. I ne'er saw him frightened of anything,” helium said.

In the gunfight Monday night, the STF squad led by Kumar gunned down 4 members of the Mustafa Kagga pack — its alleged mastermind Arshad and his 3 associates, Manjeet Dahiya, Satish and an unidentified individual.

Police claimed the gang had been actively progressive successful robbery, dacoity and execution crossed occidental UP. “We had been tracking the pack for the past fewer months, and Arshad became progressive again aft coming retired of jailhouse successful June past year. The reward connected him went up to Rs 1 lakh,” Yash said.

Kumar was inducted into the PAC arsenic a Constable connected September 1, 1990 and was promoted to the station of Head Constable successful 2002.

“He would archer us, ‘Bhai, aa jao sare, thoda kuch meetha kha lo’ (Everyone travel here, fto america person immoderate sweets). He was fond of sweets and panipuri and ensured that each of america had these portion chasing cases,” a workfellow recalled.

He served successful Agra, Ghaziabad and Moradabad and was aboriginal transferred to the STF. In 2008, helium changeable dormant 2 alleged gangsters, Umar Kewat and Ram Raj, and was promoted arsenic Sub-Inspector. In 2020, helium became an Inspector.

“He ne'er made america consciousness that helium had been astir for truthful agelong oregon that helium had much experience. Each clip we went connected an operation, helium would pb from the front. It was casual to beryllium with him,” a UP STF serviceman successful Meerut said.

Kumar, the STF connection said, besides played an important relation successful solving a treble execution lawsuit successful Delhi connected Diwali past year. The idiosyncratic responsible, Sonu alias Matka, allegedly a subordinate of the Hashim Baba gang, was changeable dormant during a gunfight with STF unit led by Kumar and a squad of the Special Cell of Delhi Police connected December 12.

Kumar is survived by his wife, an unmarried lad who runs a concern and a daughter, who is married.

“Since helium has died successful the enactment of duty, we are exploring if his lad tin beryllium fixed a occupation connected compassionate grounds,” a elder constabulary serviceman said.