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Sitapur Police Encounter: Notorious Shooters Behind Bajpai Murder Gunned Down

bySatyaDrishti •
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The recent police encounter in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, on August 7, 2025, has drawn significant attention due to its connection with the murder of journalist Raghvendra Bajpai. This incident, which occurred early in the morning, resulted in the deaths of two prime suspects, Raju Tiwari (also known as Rizwan) and Sanjay Tiwari (also known as Akeel), in a shootout with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and local police. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the event, its background, and the broader implications, based on available news sources and cross-checked information.

Background of the Journalist’s Murder

Raghvendra Bajpai, a correspondent for a national Hindi daily and an RTI activist, was murdered on March 8, 2025, in Maholi, Sitapur. The attack was carried out by bike-borne assailants who shot him multiple times. Initial investigations suggested that the murder was linked to his reporting on land disputes and a paddy procurement scam, but further probes revealed a deeper motive. The police identified Vikas Rathore, alias Shivananand Baba, the priest of Karyadev temple in Maholi, as the mastermind. Rathore allegedly paid Rs 4 lakh to hire Raju and Sanjay to kill Bajpai, who was investigating allegations of Rathore’s sexual exploitation of minors. This background highlights the risks journalists face when uncovering sensitive issues.

Details of the Criminals

  • Raju Tiwari (alias Rizwan): A resident of Mishrikh, Sitapur, Raju was a notorious criminal with a history dating back to 2006, when he was involved in the murder of sub-inspector Parvez Ali in Lakhimpur Kheri. He allegedly killed the officer by hacking and took his service revolver. Raju had over two dozen cases against him, including murder, robbery, dacoity, and illegal arms possession.
  • Sanjay Tiwari (alias Akeel): Also from Mishrikh, Sitapur, Sanjay was accused of murdering Devi Sahai Shukla in 2011 in the Machrehata police station area. Like Raju, he had multiple serious charges, including murder and other violent crimes.
  • Both criminals had a bounty of Rs 1 lakh each announced by the police and had been on the run since Bajpai’s murder, making their capture a priority for law enforcement.
Image depicting the police encounter in Sitapur where two criminals involved in the murder of journalist Raghvendra Bajpai were killed

Encounter Details

On August 7, 2025, at around 5:56 AM, the police received a tip that Raju and Sanjay were active in the Pisawan area, near the Jalapur/Dullapur trijunction, close to the Hardoi-Sitapur border. The STF, crime branch, and local police formed five joint teams to apprehend them. When the police attempted to stop the criminals, they opened fire, leading to a gunfight. In the exchange, both Raju and Sanjay were injured and were taken to a local community health center (CHC), then referred to the district hospital in Sitapur, where they were declared dead. The police sent their bodies for post-mortem and initiated further legal proceedings.

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