Ajay Dwivedi, accused of attempting to rape and subsequently murdering a woman in Lucknow’s Malihabad area, was killed in a police encounter on Friday evening, authorities confirmed. The incident caps a swift investigation launched after the woman’s body was discovered on March 18, spotlighting Uttar Pradesh’s aggressive anti-crime measures.

The victim, arriving from Varanasi at 1:30 AM on March 18, had contacted her brother from Alambagh, intending to reach his home in Chinhat. Traveling in a three-wheeler with Ajay and his brother Dinesh, a tempo driver, she was instead diverted to Malihabad. DCP (Lucknow West) Vishwajit Shrivastava explained, “Unfamiliar with the city’s routes, she was taken to a mango orchard where the duo attempted to assault her.” When she resisted, they strangled her and abandoned her body.

Her brother’s failed attempts to reach her prompted a UP 112 alert, triggering a multi-team probe. Dinesh was arrested Friday morning in Dubagga using electronic surveillance, while Ajay remained at large until evening. Tracked to Mahmood Nagar, Ajay allegedly fired at police during an escape attempt. “He was injured in retaliatory firing, arrested, and later declared dead at a hospital,” Shrivastava said. A Rs 1 lakh reward had been set for his capture.

The encounter follows the arrest of Dinesh, with legal proceedings now advancing. The case underscores the Yogi Adityanath government’s hardline stance on crime, often culminating in such encounters—178 listed criminals have been killed in Uttar Pradesh since 2017. While police hail it as justice, critics question the reliance on extrajudicial measures. Further investigation continues to ensure all aspects of the crime are addressed.