LUCKNOW: A wanted criminal carrying a Rs 1 lakh cash reward, with a criminal record spanning more than two decades and including multiple murder cases and an escape from police custody in Maharashtra, was injured in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Gorakhpur in the early hours of Monday. An STF head constable was also injured during the exchange of fire.According to the STF, the encounter took place at around 12 am on July 14 when an STF team intercepted Mustafizul Rahman alias Babu (40), a resident of Khundanpur village under Mehnagar police station in Azamgarh district, in the Gorakhpur area following specific intelligence inputs about his movement.Police said the accused allegedly opened fire on the STF team in an attempt to evade arrest, prompting the personnel to retaliate in self-defence.During the exchange of fire, Mustafizul sustained a bullet injury and was overpowered.Head Constable Mahendra Singh, who was part of the STF team, also suffered injuries during the operation.Both the accused and the injured police personnel were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their condition is stated to be stable.During a search of the encounter site, STF personnel recovered a . 32-bore pistol, the motorcycle allegedly used by the accused and a large quantity of live and spent cartridges, indicating that several rounds were exchanged.The recovered weapon and other articles have been seized and sent for forensic examination.According to senior STF officials, Mustafizul carried a Rs 1 lakh reward on his arrest and was wanted in 10 criminal cases registered across Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.His criminal history spans over two decades and includes charges of murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, theft and escaping from lawful police custody.Police records show his criminal history began in 2003 with a theft case registered at Mehnagar police station in Azamgarh. In 2008, he was booked for attempt to murder and other offences.He was again named in a major attempt-to-murder case in 2011 and had remained absconding thereafter.In 2012, he was booked in a murder case under Sections 302 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code at Mehnagar police station.As he repeatedly evaded arrest, proceedings under Sections 82 and 83 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) were initiated after he was declared a proclaimed offender.Police said Mustafizul resurfaced in another murder and criminal conspiracy case in 2021, following which fresh proclamation proceedings were initiated against him.He continued to evade arrest despite being declared a wanted criminal and carrying a Rs 1 lakh bounty.Separate criminal cases were also registered against him for failing to comply with court proceedings and for criminal intimidation.The STF further said Mustafizul escaped from police custody in Amravati Rural district of Maharashtra on December 10, 2024, leading to another criminal case against him.Since then, he had allegedly been on the run, frequently changing locations to avoid arrest.His latest criminal case was registered in 2026 at Bilgram police station in Hardoi district under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), further adding to his criminal record.Police said the accused remains under treatment and will be formally arrested after receiving medical clearance.Investigators are also probing whether he had links with any organised criminal network and whether the recovered firearm had been used in other offences.
