Ghazipur police guns down 1 lakh rewarded murder accused in Hotelier's son murder

GHAZIPUR/LUCKNOW: A key accused in the sensational murder of a hotelier's son was killed in a police encounter on Wednesday night in Ghazipur, while the officer leading the district's Special Operations Group (SOG) sustained a bullet injury during the exchange of fire.The deceased, identified as Kamlesh Chaudhary Bind, carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his arrest and was wanted in the May 29 murder of Vineet Rai (29), son of wealthy hotel businessman Alok Rai. Police recovered an illegal .32-bore pistol, cartridges and a motorcycle from the possession of the accused Kamlesh.Additional director general of police (Varanasi Zone) Piyush Mordia had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh each on the arrest of Kamlesh and co-accused Shankar Pandey.However, mastermind in the murder criminal Shankar Pandey is still elusive in the case.Police officials said Kamlesh had a criminal history involving seven cases, including charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, criminal intimidation and violations of the Arms Act.Several cases had been registered against him at Kotwali police station in Ghazipur between 2017 and 2026.Further legal proceedings are underway, while efforts continue to trace and arrest the remaining accused in the Vineet Rai murder case.The encounter took place near Kurtha village under Sadar Kotwali limits. Police said Kamlesh opened fire when security forces attempted to intercept him, prompting retaliatory firing in self-defence. He was rushed to hospital but was declared dead by doctors. SOG in-charge sub-inspector Rohit Mishra was injured during the operation and is undergoing treatment, said DIG, Varanasi Range, Vaibhav Krishna.The encounter comes days after Vineet Rai was shot dead outside his family's Hotel Bindu in Ghazipur city.According to police, four masked assailants arrived on two motorcycles and posed as customers seeking to purchase beer. While hotel staff were engaged in conversation, the attackers allegedly waited for Vineet to emerge from the hotel.As Vineet walked towards his car around 11 pm, two of the assailants allegedly pulled out pistols and opened fire. He was hit in the arm and waist while trying to flee before being shot twice in the chest. He collapsed at the hotel gate and was declared dead at a hospital.Police investigations revealed that the murder was allegedly planned through a WhatsApp group called "Katra Gang", where the attackers reportedly discussed the execution of the crime, including the number of bullets to be fired and the weapons to be used.Kamlesh was among four named accused in the case. The other suspects, Shankar Pandey, alleged to be the gang's leader, Sonu Yadav and Monu Tripathi remain absconding. Police have launched a search to trace them.Vineet, who held postgraduate qualifications and managed the family's hotel business, had been married for just over a year and is survived by his wife and a two-month-old daughter.