Gangster Shankar Kanaujia’s reign of terror has finally come to an end after 14 years of terror and crime. Known for his brutal methods and among the most dangerous criminals in Uttar Pradesh, Shankar was gunned down in an encounter with the Varanasi STF at Jahanaganj in Azamgarh late on Friday night. The encounter brought an end to a dark chapter in the state’s crime history as Shankar was wanted in several heinous cases of murder where he not only killed his victims but also beheaded them, leaving the families and the police in shock.
Shankar Kanojia was absconding since 2011 when he shocked the entire area by killing Vindhyachal Pandey during a robbery in Dohrighat and fleeing with his severed head. His notoriety grew further after he kidnapped Shailendra Singh in Maharajganj in 2024, looted a loader vehicle and carried out another brutal beheading incident. These heinous acts earned him the title of “psycho killer” and made him one of the most wanted gangsters in Uttar Pradesh. The authorities had put up a bounty of ₹1 lakh on his arrest, but he evaded law enforcement agencies for over a decade.
Shankar Kanojia encounter
According to STF officials, intelligence reports had revealed that Shankar Kanojia was planning another major heist with his gang. Acting promptly, the STF laid a trap, but instead of surrendering, Shankar Kanojia opened fire on the team. In retaliation, the STF also retaliated, in which he was seriously injured. He was rushed to a hospital, but died on the way. The encounter site revealed his preparedness for violence, as the police recovered a 9 mm carbine, a 9 mm pistol, a sharp-edged khukri and a huge cache of cartridges from the spot.
Shankar’s name evoked fear in eastern Uttar Pradesh for years. Locals describe his crimes as extremely gruesome as he would behead the victims and disappear without leaving any trace. His long escape from the law also raised questions about how he remained hidden for so many years. The STF’s success in gunning him down is being seen as a major breakthrough in the fight against organised crime and a relief for the families of his victims awaiting justice.
With Shankar’s death, the police have not only eliminated a dreaded gangster but also restored a sense of security in the area that lived under the shadow of his crimes. His fall highlights that even though crime may run rampant for a while, justice ultimately prevails.