E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

Dreaded dacoit Thokia killed
Lucknow, Aug 4: An era of gang of dacoits came to an end today with killing of the dreaded dacoit Ambika Patel alias Thokia during a fierce encounter on Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh border. The Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh Police has added another feather in its cap by killing Thokia.

At least 100 criminal cases of murder, kidnapping and looting were pending against Thokia in eight districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The STF team shot dead Thokia near Cilkhan village in the Bharatkup area of Chitrakoot district after a four hour-long encounter.

The Uttar Pradesh Government had announced a reward of Rs five lakh and Madhya Pradesh Government a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head who was hiding in the jungles of two states. The STF had launched a massive combing operation against his gang after he ambushed a vehicle of the police force killing six jawans last year. The STF jawans were returning after killing another dreaded dacoit Dadua when the incident took place.

The Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Vikram Singh announced out-of-turn promotions for the STF personnel involved in the encounter. He claimed that other gang members would be either caught or killed. The senior superintendent of STF Amitabh Yash who supervised the operations said that this was a major success for the security personnel of the state. Investigation was being done to detect the people who were giving logistic support to the gang and supplied ammunition to its members, the DGP added.

Another dreaded dacoit Dadua who had unleashed a reign of terror in Uttar Pradesh was killed a year ago by the STF. Dadua and Thokia belong to Kurmi community and had an influence in the Bundelkhand region.

Piyeria Devi, mother of Thokia, had contested from Nairaini in Banda district on Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) ticket in the last Assembly elections.

After the encounter, the police recovered four firearms from him that included a few AK series assault rifles. The gang operated a big extortion racket in the area and even collected commission from all the development projects. They used to raise huge funds in dealing with tendu leaves.
Posted by: john frum 2008-08-05
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=246169