LUCKNOW: A Rs 1-lakh rewardee sharpshooter who was allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh to execute the daylight murder of a Lucknow property dealer was killed in an encounter with UP STF on early Saturday, marking a key breakthrough in the high-profile PGI killing case.Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanjay alias Sanju (47), main shooter in the May 27 murder of builder Sandeep Singh (35), was tracked and intercepted near the Juggaur Regulator turn on Kisan Path under BBD police limits around 4:08 am. A known contract killer with links to the Dilip Verma and Khan Mubarak gangs, Sanjeev had been on the run since the killing, carrying a Rs 1 lakh bounty on his arrest.Investigators said the killing stemmed from a property dispute. The STF had earlier arrested rival builder Dinesh Yadav and his driver Mubeen, who allegedly conspired to eliminate Sandeep.During interrogation, police learnt that Mubeen, through middleman Gangaram Yadav (also arrested), hired two shooters for Rs 10 lakh each to carry out the execution. While Sanjeev was identified as the main gunman, the second shooter—who rode the motorcycle used in the crime—remains at large.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. At around 3:50 am, an informer spotted him riding an unnumbered motorcycle. When challenged, he allegedly fled towards Sultanpur Road, triggering a chase that lasted nearly 2-3 km.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 had 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 the spot. 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.
