Varanasi, India — A notorious criminal was killed during a dramatic encounter with Special Task Force (STF) officers early Wednesday morning near Bariyasanpur on the Ring Road. The shooter, identified as Banarasi Yadav, had been wanted in connection with the murder of builder Mahendra Gautam, who was fatally shot outside his residence on August 21, 2025.
Authorities had placed a bounty of ₹1 lakh on Banarasi as he became a person of interest following the high-profile murder. In the early hours of the day, STF teams, acting on a tip-off regarding Banarasi’s movements on the Ghazipur-Varanasi highway, established a perimeter and began surveilling the area.
As Banarasi attempted to evade capture, he reportedly opened fire when approached by the officers. The STF quickly returned fire, resulting in Banarasi sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to a nearby medical facility, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
In addition to the firearms recovered from the scene—two pistols—STF officers also seized a substantial number of live cartridges. Banarasi had a lengthy criminal record, facing 21 charges including murder, and had been active in the underworld since 2002, primarily operating in Varanasi, Ghazipur, and Sonbhadra. His criminal activities included involvement in extortion and violent disputes.
The murder of Mahendra Gautam was said to involve a land dispute over 29 biswa of prime property valued at ₹60 crore. Reportedly, Banarasi and his two accomplices were hired by Jogendra Banarasi, known as Fattu, an old acquaintance of his. During investigations, police learned that Banarasi had acquired weapons from a known arms dealer in Bihar.
One of his accomplices, identified as Arvind Banarasi alias Fauji, had previously been apprehended by local authorities, while police are continuing efforts to locate and arrest a second associate, Vishal, also of Ghazipur. Several other individuals linked to the murder—including Jogendra Banarasi, Sampurnanand Shukla, Shyam Rajbhar alias Rekha Pradhan, and Mohammad Mukim—are currently in custody, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Law enforcement officials have reiterated their commitment to combating organized crime as they seek to dismantle networks that contribute to violence in the region. The incident marks another chapter in the ongoing struggle against organized crime in Uttar Pradesh, where authorities are working to ensure public safety and justice for victims affected by criminal activities.