Azamgarh, August 23, 2025 – In a dramatic early morning shootout, Shankar Kanaujia, a wanted history-sheeter from Varanasi carrying a ₹1 lakh bounty, was gunned down by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Azamgarh district. The encounter unfolded in the Jahanaganj police station area, marking the end of a 14-year manhunt for the man accused of brutal murders and robberies across eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Police officials said the operation kicked off around dawn after a tip-off that Kanaujia and his gang were plotting a big crime in the region. As per reports, a team led by Inspector Puneet Singh Parihar attempted to corner him in the Jahanaganj police station area. When they tried to nab him, Kanaujia opened fire with a carbine and pistol, forcing the cops to shoot back in self-defense. He was hit, rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Kanaujia, a resident of Hajiipur village in Azamgarh’s Rounapar area, had been on the run since 2011. He earned his notorious reputation for savage killings, often beheading his victims after robbery. One chilling case dates back to 2011 in Dohrighat, where he slit the throat of Vindhyachal Pandey during a loot. More recently, in July 2024, he and his accomplices kidnapped driver Shailendra Singh from Maharajganj, poisoned him, murdered him, and chopped off his head before dumping the body and stealing his loader vehicle. The head remains missing, and two of his partners, Ramchhavi alias Dabiya and Changur, were caught soon after, but Kanaujia slipped away.
With nine serious cases against him, including murder, kidnapping, loot, and attempt to murder, Kanaujia was a top target for law enforcement. The ₹1 lakh reward was announced by ADG Piyush Mordia of Varanasi zone, highlighting his threat to public safety in districts like Mau, Ghazipur, and Varanasi. While on the lam, he kept up his criminal ways, using fake IDs and operating from places like Gorakhpur.
From the scene, cops recovered a 9mm carbine, a 9mm pistol, a khukri machete, several live cartridges, and spent shells. STF sources called it a big win in their crackdown on organized crime in Purvanchal. “He was a menace who terrorized people for years. This encounter sends a strong message to others like him,” an officer said on condition of anonymity.
As news spread, social media buzzed with reactions. Local folks in Azamgarh expressed relief, saying Kanaujia’s gang had long cast a shadow over the area. This is the latest in a string of STF actions against wanted criminals in Uttar Pradesh, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy on crime continues to make headlines. Investigations are ongoing to track down remaining gang members.
