High-Stakes Showdown: Accused NEET Aspirant Murderer Killed in Gorakhpur Police Encounter

In a significant development that brings a dramatic close to a high-profile case, the primary accused in the brutal murder of Gorakhpur NEET aspirant Srijan Parashar has been killed in a police encounter. Vijay Prajapati, who had been on the run since Parashar's tragic death on March 17, met his end during a dramatic confrontation with law enforcement in the Pipiganj area of Gorakhpur.

The encounter unfolded when a joint team from the Special Operations Group (SOG) and local Pipiganj police intercepted Prajapati, who was traveling on a motorcycle.

When ordered to stop, Prajapati reportedly opened fire on the officers, injuring two constables, Pradeep Kumar and Shivkant Shukla. The police retaliated, resulting in Prajapati being critically wounded. He was swiftly transported to BRD Medical College, where he was unfortunately pronounced dead by doctors.

The murder of Srijan Parashar had sent shockwaves through the community.

The 19-year-old NEET aspirant was brutally attacked, and Prajapati quickly emerged as the prime suspect. Police investigations revealed a grim motive: Srijan had reportedly been a witness to an earlier assault by Prajapati on another student, Himanshu Singh. Prajapati, fearing Srijan would testify against him, decided to eliminate the witness.

The initial incident, which laid the groundwork for Srijan's murder, involved Prajapati attacking Himanshu Singh over a dispute concerning Rs 12,000.

Srijan, who witnessed this assault, had commendably taken Himanshu to the hospital, inadvertently placing himself in harm's way.

Following Srijan's murder, the Gorakhpur Police had launched an intensive manhunt, forming five dedicated teams to track down Prajapati. A reward of Rs 25,000 had also been announced for any information leading to his arrest, underscoring the gravity with which the authorities viewed the case.

Gorakhpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gourav Grover confirmed the details of the encounter, stating that Prajapati had a significant criminal history.

Records indicate that he was wanted in at least seven cases, including charges of murder, attempt to murder, and robbery, painting a picture of a dangerous individual who frequently engaged in serious criminal activities. The police encounter marks the culmination of their relentless pursuit to bring justice for Srijan Parashar.