Overview
- Police say the Etawah Special Operations Group and Firozabad teams moved on a tip that two wanted men were aboard the Sambalpur Express and confronted them at Shikohabad on Friday, July 17.
- Officers allege the suspects fled the train, briefly took a child hostage before abandoning the child, and exchanged fire with police in nearby fields where both men were shot dead.
- Two SOG constables were wounded in the gunfire; Constable David Chauhan suffered an abdominal injury and was described as critical, while Pushpendra was hit in the shoulder and both were admitted to hospital with one referred to Agra.
- Authorities identified the dead as Sumit, 25, and Ankit, 26, described them as long-time criminals wanted in multiple cases who carried cash rewards, and sent the bodies for post-mortem as senior officers inspected the scene.
- Police have opened a formal inquiry into the encounter and the post-mortem results and investigation findings will be key to verifying the official account and any wider review of the operation.