UP gangster’s house razed; cop suspended over suspicious role
POLICE SAID VIKAS DUBEY’S FORTIFIED HOUSE, BUILT OVER FOUR BIGHAS, WAS A HUB OF CRIMINALS
KANPUR: Officials on Saturday razed the house of a dreaded criminal whose accomplices have shot dead eight policemen and suspended a sub-inspector who is under the scanner after the failed raid in a village in Kanpur Dehat district.
For the demolition drive, the Kanpur district administration used the same earthmover machine that criminals used to block police vehicles arriving in Bikru village, 45km from the district headquarters, on Thursday night for a raid against gangster Vikas Dubey, 48.
Dubey’s men sprayed a volley of bullets on the policemen from the roofs of his house and structures nearby after the personnel got off their vehicles, killing a deputy superintendent, three sub-inspectors and four constables in an ambush that the police termed a “well-planned conspiracy”. The criminals looted their weapons and escaped in the dark.
Police officials probing the case also questioned Chaubeypur station officer (SO) Vinay Tiwari for nine hours over his role in the failed operation.
He was later suspended and shifted to Lucknow.
Kanpur inspector general Mohit Agarwal said Dubey’s fortified one-storey house, built in 2013 over four bighas in the middle of the village, was a “hub of criminals”. The palatial house had a 12-foot boundary wall protected by barbed wire.
KANPUR: Officials on Saturday razed the house of a dreaded criminal whose accomplices have shot dead eight policemen and suspended a sub-inspector who is under the scanner after the failed raid in a village in Kanpur Dehat district.
For the demolition drive, the Kanpur district administration used the same earthmover machine that criminals used to block police vehicles arriving Bikru village, 45km from the district headquarters, on Thursday night for a raid against gangster Vikas Dubey, 48.
Dubey’s men sprayed a volley of bullets on the policemen from the roofs of his house and structures nearby after they got off their vehicles, killing a deputy superintendent, three sub-inspectors and four constables in an ambush that the police said termed a “well-planned conspiracy”. The criminals looted their weapons and escaped in the dark.
Kanpur inspector general Mohit Agarwal said the fortified one-storey house, built in 2013 over four bighas in the middle of the village, was a “hub of criminals”. The palatial house had a 12-foot boundary wall protected by barbed wire. “Most of the villagers have said that he [Dubey] grabbed people’s land using muscle power, and built his house. He used to extort money from people,” Agarwal said.
He said the police were gathering details of Dubey’s other properties, including benami ones. “Dubey will be arrested soon,” Agarwal added.
Two SUVs parked in Dubey’s garage were taken out and destroyed along with two tractors parked in the courtyard. The demolition began early morning amidst heavy police presence.
Dubey’s father, Ram Kumar, was living in the house. He was taken to Lucknow. Dubey’s wife lives in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, with their younger son. The older son is studying in the UK.
After the shootout, Dubey could have taken away the digital video recorder (DVR), which stored the feed from CCTV cameras installed at his house, according to officials.
He used CCTV cameras to keep a watch up to the main road that leads to his house. During a search of his house on Friday, police investigators could not find the DVR.
The police were also investigating as to who snapped the power supply to the village when the police reached for a raid. An official said there was a total blackout at the time.
In a related development, officials probing the case questioned Chaubeypur station officer (SO) Vinay Tiwari for nine hours. He was later suspended and shifted to Lucknow.
“In view of the allegations levelled against the SO, he has been suspended, and all the allegations are being thoroughly looked into. If his involvement or that of any other personnel of the police is found in this incident, then they will be sacked from the department, and also sent to jail,” Agarwal said at Chaubeypur police station.
He did not specify on the allegations against Tiwari