Police identified the deceased as Israel alias Israyal, a Muslim man who carried a reward of ₹1 lakh and had been absconding since the killing of Sant Ram Miland Das, popularly known as Baba Milan Das. The priest was stabbed to death on June 9 in Bangarmau’s Ghure Tola area near an under-construction temple site, an incident that triggered anger and tension in the locality.
Superintendent of Police Jai Prakash Singh said that a joint team of Bangarmau Police and the Special Operations Group was conducting routine checks on suspicious movement near the Agra-Lucknow Expressway service road at around 3.40 am when intelligence inputs confirmed the presence of the wanted suspect near the Tajpur underpass.
Acting on the information, police teams swiftly reached the location and surrounded him. Officers instructed him to surrender, but he opened fire in an attempt to break through the cordon and escape.
Gunfight Near Expressway
The situation escalated into a brief exchange of fire between the suspect and police personnel.
One bullet struck the bulletproof jacket of Sub-Inspector Newton Kumar Singh, preventing serious injury. Another bullet hit SOG constable Vikas Bhadauria in the hand, leaving him injured and requiring immediate treatment.
Police retaliated and struck Israel during the encounter. He sustained critical injuries and was rushed to the Community Health Centre in Bangarmau, where doctors declared him dead.
A .315 bore country-made pistol, two spent cartridges and a knife were recovered from the spot. The knife is believed to have been used in the killing of the priest.
The encounter brought an end to the active search operation that had been underway since June 9.
Temple Dispute at the Centre of Case
The investigation traces the origin of the incident to tensions surrounding an under-construction temple in Bangarmau.
Baba Milan Das had been associated with religious duties at the Bodheshwar Temple and had recently begun supervising construction of a new temple located around 200 metres from his residence. He was frequently present at the site, engaging in religious activities and overseeing construction work.
Over time, differences emerged over bhajan-kirtan and other religious gatherings at the location. Israel, Yamin, Shafi and others were part of the dispute, which gradually escalated into sustained hostility.
On June 9, the priest was called away from the temple site and attacked with knives. He sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead at the community health centre in Bangarmau.
The incident triggered widespread outrage in the area and created a tense atmosphere, with demands for strict action against those responsible.
Investigation Continues
Police had already arrested three individuals in connection with the case, while Israel remained the most wanted suspect until the encounter.
With his death, a significant phase of the investigation has concluded. However, authorities continue to examine the broader circumstances surrounding the murder, including the sequence of events and the involvement of others linked to the case.
For Unnao, the case closes a violent chapter that began with a local dispute over temple activities and ended in a police encounter on a highway service road.
