Lucknow: An autorickshaw driver accused of kidnapping, gang-raping, and murdering a woman in Lucknow’s Malihabad area was shot dead in a police encounter on Friday. The accused had a bounty of ₹1 lakh on his head, which was declared earlier in the day.

Case Background

The incident involved a 32-year-old woman from Ayodhya, who had traveled to Varanasi for a job interview and was heading to her brother’s house in Chinhat when she went missing. According to her family, she hired an autorickshaw from Alambagh in the early hours of Wednesday. However, instead of taking her to the intended destination, the driver allegedly diverted the route to Malihabad.

Victim’s Last Moments

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-Crime Kamlesh Kumar Dixit stated that the victim’s brother reported her missing at around 4 AM on Wednesday. Before losing contact, the woman had shared her live location with her brother and expressed concerns about the driver taking an unfamiliar route. Alarmed, her family immediately contacted the police emergency helpline 112.

Acting swiftly, the police tracked her last known location near Malihabad and launched a search operation. Hours later, she was found unconscious in a mango orchard near Mohammad Nagar Talukdari. She was rushed to King George’s Medical University, but doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Investigation and Police Action

Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, suspecting multiple perpetrators. During the investigation, the victim’s mobile phone was recovered from the accused, strengthening the case against him.

On Friday, a police team confronted the accused in a Malihabad area encounter, during which he was shot dead. Officials stated that the encounter was part of efforts to ensure justice for the victim and prevent such heinous crimes in the future.