A former shooter linked to the criminal network of slain gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district, police said on Thursday. The victim, identified as Shoaib, alias Bobby, had earlier been named in multiple criminal cases, including the 1999 murder of Lucknow jailer R.K. Tiwari.

According to officials, the attack took place in the Asaini area while Shoaib was travelling from Barabanki to Lucknow. Assailants opened heavy fire on his vehicle, with police confirming that around 15 rounds were discharged during the assault. The sustained firing is believed to have lasted nearly 10 minutes.

Witnesses reported scenes of panic as the shooting unfolded in public view. Residents in the vicinity said they heard repeated bursts of gunfire before the vehicle was riddled with bullets. Investigators believe the intensity of the attack indicates the involvement of multiple attackers, though no arrests had been reported at the time of writing.

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Police sources said Shoaib had previously been identified as a shooter associated with Ansari’s gang and had a history of serious criminal allegations. Authorities are now examining possible motives, including gang rivalry and past enmities, while scanning CCTV footage and gathering forensic evidence from the scene.

Mukhtar Ansari, once a powerful figure in eastern Uttar Pradesh’s criminal and political landscape, had faced more than 60 criminal cases ranging from murder to extortion. Despite his criminal record, he was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly five times on tickets from different political parties.

Ansari died in 2024 after suffering cardiac arrest while in custody. Police said investigations into the latest killing are ongoing, and security in the surrounding areas has been tightened as officials work to identify and apprehend the attackers.

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