Surat, November 26, 2004
Express News Service
Sanjay Singh alias Sanju Shreeram Shardaprasad Chaudhary (25), a dreaded
criminal involved in the sensational murder-cum-abduction of an NRI
and abduction of the two New Delhi-based youngsters, was killed in a
police encounter on the Sanjan-Bhilad highway in the wee hours of Friday
morning.
At the time of the encounter, he was being escorted by the Valsad police
in a mobile van from Valsad to Umbergaon for further investigation in
the fake currency notes racket.
Sanjay was in police remand with the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Valsad
from November 19-29. During interrogation, he had confessed to commiting
of various crimes perpetrated by his gang in the last couple of years
in Valsad district, including the fake currency racket, operated by
former Chhota Rajan aide, Bunty Pandey. The Valsad LCB had recovered
a single fake currency note of denomination of Rs 1,000 during the raid
operation at Sanjays hideout at Umbergaon taluka.
Chaudhary was among five associates arrested in a joint operation carried
out by the Surat and the Valsad police for the release of two New Delhi-based
yongsters who were kept as hostages in Umbergaon taluka on October 25.
At about 4.30 am on Friday morning, the Valsad LCB sleuths, led by
police inspector K G Erda and sub-inspector J M Yadav, escorted Sanjay
Chaudhary in a police van for carrying out further investigation into
the fake currency note. Earlier during interrogation, Sanjay had revealed
to the police that the fake currency note in the demonination of Rs
1,000 was being circulated by one Asif, residing in Umbergaon taluka.
According to the police, on the way towards Umbergaon, Sanjay Chaudhary
complained of severe vomiting. Therefore, he was immediately taken to
the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Bhilad. The doctor at the PHC centre
told the police that nothing was wrong with Sanjay.
The policemen started from the hospital towards Umbergaon. Sanjay stopped
the police vehicle on the pretext of vomitting just a few kms from Bhilad.
A hand-cuffed Sanjay was led by head constable Bhaskar Rao and Gunman
Ganesh Amrut on the roadside. Police said Sanjay sat down on the ground
and started vomiting.
Within seconds, Sanjay attacked head constable Bhaskar Rao and snatched
away the rifle from Ganesh Amrut. However, Bhaskar Rao immediately got
up from the ground and pushed Sanjay, who was about to fire on Ganesh.
This saved Amruts life.
Sub-Inspector Yadav and Police Inspector Erda jumped off from the police
van and opened fire on Sanjay from their service revolvers. A total
of six bullets were fired by Erda and Yadav. Four bullets hit Sanjay
killing him on the spot.
District Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Valsad Abhay Chudasama told
Express Newsline: He (Sanjay) was trying to escape from
the police escort and he even fired one round from the rifle after snatching
away the rifle from the Gunman. Sanjay has been killed in retaliatory
fire.
Chudasama said Sanjays body was shifted to the PHC Hospital at
Bhilad from where his body is likely to be shifted to a cold-storage
at Silvassa.
The Valsad police were engaged in the process of contacting Sanjays
relatives and family members in Uttar Pradesh. The body will be handed
over to them after their arrival in Valsad.
Police Inspector of the LCB K G Erda said: Both the constables
were lucky enough that the rifle was having only one loaded cartridge
when Sanjay fired from the rifle. We were quite baffled. Without thinking,
we opened fire killing him on the spot.