By Santosh Kumar Sharma: Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad, wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, was killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi on Thursday. Another accused in the case, Ghulam, was also shot dead.

Both Asad and Ghulam had a reward of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads. Asad Ahmed had been captured by a CCTV camera during the attack on Umesh Pal and had been on the run since.

The encounter was carried out by a 12-member STF team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Navendu Kumar Naveen and DSP Vimal Kumar Singh.

STF Additional Director General (ADG) Amitabh Yash said that an attempt was made to capture both the accused alive, but they opened fire on the police team. “Both were killed in retaliatory action by the police,” he said.

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Here are the top cops who led the UP STF team:

NAVENDU KUMAR NAVEEN

Naveen is the DSP in STF and is posted in Lucknow. Naveen was born on August 3, 1967, in Saran, Bihar. His father’s name is Bholanath Rai. Naveen is a 2017 cadre police officer. Navendu was included in the Special Task Force in the year 2017, according to the UP Police website.

A few years ago, in an encounter with a dacoit, he was also shot in the hand and neck. Last year, Navendu killed two criminals. He was awarded the President’s Gallantry Medal in 2008 and the National Gallantry Medal in 2014. In 2022, Navendu was awarded the President’s Award on Independence Day for his bravery.

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VIMAL KUMAR SINGH

Vimal Kumar Singh is posted as UP STF DSP in Lucknow headquarters. Like Navendu, Vimal Singh was admitted to the UP Police as a sub-inspector. Vimal Kumar Singh’s informer network has played an important role in cracking down on many big mafias of Purvanchal during his posting in UP STF. He is a resident of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh and is a 2018 cadre police officer.

AMITABH YASH

STF ADG Amitabh Yash is from Bhojpur, Bihar. His father, Ram Yash Singh, was also an IPS officer. After completing his schooling at St Stephen’s College, Delhi, Amitabh Yash passed the UPSC exam and became an IPS officer.

He was first posted in Santakbirnagar district. After serving there for 11 months, he was posted as SP and SSP in Barabanki Maharajganj, Hardoi, Jalaun, Saharanpur, Sitapur, Bulandshahr, Noida and Kanpur.

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