Man accused of kidnapping, raping toddler killed in encounter by Lucknow police hours after committing crime
LUCKNOW: In a major crackdown, the Lucknow police tracked a rape accused, Deepak Verma, 24, and neutralised him in an encounter near the Sugarcane Institute in the Devi Kheda area on the outskirts of the state capital early Friday morning.
Deepak, who had allegedly raped a two-and-a-half-year-old girl under the Alambagh metro station just hours earlier, was gunned down after he opened fire on a police team that had zeroed in on him. He sustained two bullet injuries in the chest and later died during treatment.
The heinous crime occurred in the early hours of Friday when the accused allegedly kidnapped the toddler, who was sleeping with her parents under the Alambagh metro station. Gagging her mouth, he lifted her and carried her towards the lift area around 2:30 am, where he raped her.
After the girl fainted due to severe injuries, the accused, presuming her dead, fled the scene. A handicapped passerby later found the child lying unconscious and bleeding and alerted nearby residents and her parents.
Soon after the incident, a 3.55-second CCTV footage from the metro premises surfaced. It showed Deepak arriving on a white Honda Activa, pressing the lift button, and then crossing the road to pick up the girl. He is seen lifting her and taking her towards the lift where the assault took place.
Police said the footage suggested the accused had been monitoring the location and assessing the situation multiple times before striking.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Youth who kidnapped, raped 3-year-old killed in encounter
1 2 Lucknow: A man accused of kidnapping and raping a three-year-old girl in Lucknow was killed in an encounter with police in the early hours of Friday. The accused was identified as Deepak Verma, 24. Police said he was a habitual offender, and several criminal cases were lodged against him at various police stations. Police had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for any information leading to his arrest. On Thursday, a complaint was registered at Alambagh police station that a three-year-old girl was kidnapped and raped. The minor sustained multiple injuries to her private parts. Deputy commissioner of police (Central) Ashish Srivastava said, "CCTV footage was scanned, and the accused, who arrived at the spot on a white scooter, was identified through the number plate." Alambagh police were working on the case when, through an informer's tip-off. It was learnt that the Aishbagh resident was trying to flee the city. When the police apprehended him, he fired at the police. Inspector in-charge of Alambagh, Subhash Chandra Saroj, was fired at twice by the accused, but the bulletproof jacket saved his life, police said. "In retaliatory firing, cops shot him, and he was critically injured. Verma was rushed to Lokbandhu Hospital for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries. Doctors confirmed his death, and a postmortem is being conducted as per procedure," the DCP said. "The action was taken purely in self-defence. The response was measured and controlled to apprehend the accused alive, but he succumbed to his injuries. The police recovered a country-made pistol and the scooter from the scene," the DCP added. The DCP said that the accused worked as a vendor selling water at railway stations. To recall, the three-year-old girl was kidnapped while she was sleeping next to her parents on the roadside early Thursday morning. The child was found in a severely injured state, abandoned around 500 metres from the spot. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Accused stalked metro stn before picking girl; act caught on CCTV
Lucknow: On the night of the crime, Deepak visited the Alambagh Metro Station two to three times, observing the surroundings. The crime occurred in an area surrounded by three police outposts, including a pink booth designated for women's safety, located just 300 metres from the crime scene where the girl was sleeping with her mother. Despite the police presence around, the accused, Deepak, managed to carry out the horrific assault and escape. "Once he was certain that the girl's parents were in deep sleep, he kidnapped the girl, committed the rape, and fled towards the service road. Showing no fear after the crime, Deepak roamed around Alambagh and nearby areas on his scooter for about two and a half hours. The entire act was captured on CCTV," said an officer. The CCTV footage related to the crime surfaced after the encounter, showing the accused carrying the girl in his arms before committing the heinous act near an elevator. Police analysis of the video suggests that the accused pre-targeted the victim, indicating a planned attack. "The condition of the girl is stable now and she is scheduled to undergo surgery later on Friday," DCP (Central) Ashish Srivastava said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Rape accused was a repeat offender; scooter gifted by sister
The man who raped a toddler and was gunned down in a police encounter in the early hours of Friday was booked in criminal cases registered at two police stations in the city. Charges for rioting, criminal intimidation and others were booked against him in these cases. According to police, Deepak Verma, 24, was the youngest of the four siblings. 'His elder brother, Vishnu Verma, earns his living working as a labourer and fruit vendor. His elder sister lives in Surat, and his younger sister lives in Lucknow. Two years ago, the sister in Surat had gifted Vishnu a scooter, which Deepak forcibly took and used to commit crimes,' said Subhash Chand, the Alamabh station house officer (SHO), adding he often stayed out late. In a CCTV footage, Deepak was seen fleeing with the two-year-old child on a white scooter. The police said Deepak usually left home at 6 pm and returned by 5 am. A police investigation also revealed his prior involvement in a similar crime, leading to his imprisonment along with two of his accomplices. 'The accused has two criminal cases, one registered in Para in 2024 and another at Hazratganj police station in 2021,' read details shared by the police. While the case at Para police station was booked under sections 504 (intentional insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, IPC sections 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504, and 506 were invoked in the other. 'Sold water in trains, organised jagrata' According to police, Deepak would, at times, help his brother-in-law in the latter's fruit business. 'He also sold water in trains. He organised ritualistic jagrata events for which he made tableaus as well,' said DCP (Central) Ashish Srivastava. In a picture widely shared on social media, the accused can be seen posing in front of a statue of Lord Shiva, which he had made as part of a tableau for a jagrata event. Police added Deepak would often dress himself as a member of the 'aghori' sect, which is known for its ascetic practices. 'Several photos recovered by the police show him in aghori attire,' said an official. Pic cap: In a picture widely shared on social media, the accused can be seen posing in front of a statue of Lord Shiva, which he had made as part of a tableau for a jagrata event.
