India

Police Intercept 20‑Year‑Old with Illegal Pistol in Lucknow After Three Murders

By HT Correspondent

Police in Lucknow seized an illegal country‑made pistol from 20‑year‑old Ujefa, who was wanted for the October 31 murder of Rehan Ghazi. The man was intercepted behind a powerhouse in the Amrapali outpost area while allegedly carrying a .315‑bore pistol. He reportedly opened fire at police, sustaining a bullet injury in return fire. DCP West JK Srivastav said officers recovered two empty cartridges, one live cartridge, and a motorcycle from Ujefa.

The arrest follows investigations into the sources of firearms used in two other fatal incidents in Lucknow. In the August 20 shooting that killed bank field officer Manas Bajpayee, police found three country‑made .32‑bore pistols. In the October 26 Saadatganj triple murder involving Rishabh Shukla, an illegal pistol, six live cartridges, six spent casings and two magazines were recovered. Police have not publicly identified the origins of the weapons in either case.

Ujefa is also charged with the murder of Rehan Ghazi, who was allegedly stabbed by a group of men on Ramnagar‑Campbell Road in Balaganj between 8:30 pm and 9:00 pm on October 31. An FIR was filed at Saadatganj police station under sections 191(2), 352 and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police said that while checking suspicious persons and vehicles, Ujefa attempted to flee and fired at officers. He is a resident of Gulab Ki Bagiya in Saadatganj and faces five cases, including the current murder case and cases at Thakurganj, Alambagh and Hasanganj police stations. A separate case under section 109(1) of the BNS and the Arms Act has been registered for the alleged firing at police.