A high-profile manhunt that stretched across multiple states came to a dramatic end late Monday night when the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) shot dead an alleged gangster carrying a reward of ₹1 lakh during an encounter in Gorakhpur. The accused, Mustafizul Hasan, had been on the run for years after being named in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Kalamuddin alias Kamalu, a politically significant killing that had drawn widespread attention in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
According to police officials, the encounter began at around 11:15 pm after STF personnel, working alongside the local police, received intelligence about Hasan’s movement in the Gorakhpur region. Acting on the information, security teams attempted to intercept him. Investigators said the suspect refused to surrender and instead opened fire at the police team in an apparent attempt to escape.
The exchange of gunfire lasted for nearly 30 minutes, turning the otherwise quiet area into the scene of an intense operation. Officials said approximately 15 rounds were fired from both sides before the accused was overpowered. During the encounter, Hasan sustained gunshot injuries near his eye and in his leg. Police immediately shifted him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead during treatment.
Senior police officials maintained that the STF acted in self-defence after coming under attack. “Our teams asked the accused to stop, but he started firing. The force retaliated in accordance with the law,” an officer associated with the operation said, adding that the sequence of events would be documented as part of the mandatory legal procedure followed after every police encounter.
The death of Hasan marks a significant breakthrough in one of the state’s long-running criminal investigations. He had been accused of murdering BSP leader Kalamuddin alias Kamalu nearly four years ago. Kalamuddin had contested the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election from the Nizamabad constituency in Azamgarh on a BSP ticket, making the case politically sensitive from the very beginning. His killing had triggered demands for swift justice and intensified pressure on law enforcement agencies to trace those responsible.
Investigators had described Hasan as a habitual offender who frequently changed locations to avoid arrest. Originally from the Mehnagar police station area of Azamgarh district, he allegedly relied on a network of contacts across different states to evade police surveillance. His ability to remain mobile for extended periods made him one of the most wanted accused in the region.
Although police succeeded in tracing and arresting him in Gujarat in December 2024, Hasan managed to escape in dramatic fashion before he could be produced before a court in Uttar Pradesh. Officials said he requested permission to use the toilet while being transported by train. As the train approached Maharashtra’s Amravati railway station, he allegedly jumped from the moving coach and disappeared before security personnel could stop him.
That escape embarrassed the escort team and prompted an intensified search involving multiple police units. Authorities expanded surveillance across several states, monitored known associates, and tracked possible hideouts. However, despite repeated efforts, Hasan continued to evade capture for months by constantly shifting his location.
Following his escape, Uttar Pradesh Police announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to his arrest. The bounty reflected both the seriousness of the murder case and the challenges investigators faced in locating him. Law enforcement agencies repeatedly described him as a dangerous criminal capable of using violence to resist arrest.
Police records indicate that Hasan faced a long list of criminal cases across different states. Officials said eight criminal cases were registered against him in Azamgarh, while one case each was pending in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra’s Amravati. These cases reportedly included serious criminal offences, reinforcing the police assessment that he posed a continuing threat to public safety.
The encounter is expected to bring some closure to the murder investigation that has remained active for years. At the same time, authorities are likely to continue examining Hasan’s criminal network, financial links, and alleged associates to determine whether others played a role in the BSP leader’s killing or assisted him during his period as a fugitive.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the Uttar Pradesh STF’s role in pursuing high-profile criminals across state borders. In recent years, the specialised unit has conducted several operations targeting wanted gangsters, reward-carrying offenders, and organised crime networks. Officials argue that such operations are aimed at strengthening law enforcement and ensuring that fugitives cannot indefinitely evade the justice system.
As the legal formalities following the encounter move forward, police are expected to complete forensic examinations, prepare the mandatory encounter report, and inform the courts handling Hasan’s pending criminal cases. Investigators also plan to review evidence collected over the years in connection with the murder of Kalamuddin, ensuring that every aspect of the politically sensitive case reaches its legal conclusion.
For the family of the slain BSP leader, the operation represents another significant development in a case that has remained in public memory for years. While the encounter closes the chapter on one of the principal accused, the broader judicial process surrounding the murder investigation is expected to continue as authorities pursue every remaining lead linked to the crime.