Asad, the main accused in the killing of 17-year-old Surya Pratap Chauhan in Ghaziabad, was shot dead in a police encounter after days of protests over the stabbing of the Class XI student in Khoda Colony.
Police said Asad, who carried a reward of Rs 50,000, was intercepted during a joint operation by Khoda and Indirapuram police teams after intelligence inputs suggested he was planning to flee the area after collecting money from associates. He allegedly opened fire when police tried to stop him. Officers returned fire, leaving him critically injured. He was taken to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
A police officer was also injured in the exchange of fire and is undergoing treatment. Police said a motorcycle and a firearm were recovered from the encounter site. Search operations are continuing for another aide who escaped during the operation.
Surya Pratap Chauhan was attacked with a knife on May 28, the day of Bakri Eid, in the Khoda area of Ghaziabad. He sustained multiple stab wounds and died during treatment the following day. His killing triggered anger among residents, relatives and local groups, leading to demonstrations demanding swift action against those named in the case.
Five people were named as accused. Three more accused, identified as Nawab, Farhan and Atif, have been arrested. Nawab is Asad’s father. Investigators are examining whether the attack stemmed from an argument that escalated into a planned assault. Police have also recorded statements from the victim’s family and witnesses who were with him before the stabbing.
Surya, a resident of Navneet Vihar in Khoda Colony, was a Class XI student at a private school. His family said he and the accused knew each other and had moved in the same social circle. Relatives alleged that he was called out of his home on the pretext of joining Eid celebrations and was later attacked by a group carrying knives.
The victim’s sister alleged that Surya had initially been reluctant to go but left after repeated calls. She claimed several people were present at the spot and that the attackers chased him when he tried to escape. Police said he collapsed on the road after sustaining stab injuries, while the assailants fled.
The complaint filed by Surya’s elder brother said the assault took place near Sharma Dairy after an argument. He alleged that Asad abused Surya before stabbing him repeatedly in the abdomen with intent to kill. Friends who were present during the incident have given statements to police as part of the murder investigation.
Investigators are also looking at claims that an earlier dispute between Surya and Asad may have contributed to the attack. During questioning, one of the arrested accused allegedly said the confrontation followed an argument earlier that day. Police are verifying the sequence of events through witness statements, call records and local surveillance footage.
The killing has put Khoda Colony under heightened police watch. Additional personnel were deployed after protests by residents and Hindu organisations, with authorities seeking to prevent the incident from escalating into wider unrest. Senior officers have appealed for calm while saying that legal proceedings against all accused will continue.
The encounter has added a new layer of scrutiny to the case. Police have described the shooting as an act of self-defence during an armed confrontation. The official account says officers acted after Asad fired at the police team. The recovery of a weapon from the site is being treated as part of the evidence in the encounter inquiry.
Surya’s family has demanded strict punishment for all those involved. His mother has publicly called for similar action against the remaining accused and sought proof of Asad’s death. Her remarks reflected the anger among the victim’s relatives, though police officials have said the investigation will proceed according to law.
The case has drawn political attention in Uttar Pradesh, with senior leaders condemning the killing and promising strict action. Authorities are under pressure to complete the investigation quickly, file charges against the accused in custody and establish the precise motive behind the attack.
Ghaziabad police are now pursuing three parallel strands: the murder investigation, the arrest of remaining suspects and the legal formalities linked to the encounter. Forensic examination of the recovered firearm, post-mortem findings, witness testimony and digital evidence are expected to shape the next stage of the case.
