Two criminals accused of repeatedly robbing women in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh were killed in a police encounter on Sunday evening, 24th, after they opened fire on police teams during an operation near Madhauli village. The accused had earlier looted earrings from a woman on Sunday afternoon, following which the police intensified their search and surrounded them.
The two accused who were killed were identified as Raja Mohammad, a resident of Rajapur village in Hapur district, and Momin from Bulandshahr. Police said Raja Mohammad had around 40 criminal cases registered against him, while Momin was facing 27 cases. Two police constables were also injured during the exchange of fire.
रजा मोहम्मद और मोमीन खेतों में काम करने वाली महिलाओं को पिस्टल दिखाते और उनका गहना उतरवा लेते थे। यही इन दोनों का काम था। डर का आलम यह हो गया कि महिलाएं बाहर निकलने से बचने लगी।
— Rajesh Sahu (@askrajeshsahu) May 25, 2026
दोनों ने 40 से 50 महिलाओं को निशाना बनाया था। कई बार जेल गए, लेकिन बाहर आते ही उसी काम में लग गए।… pic.twitter.com/um1dqGWh7P
According to police, the two accused had been targeting women working in villages and fields for several days. On 17th May, a group of women from Bhakrola village had gone to nearby fields during the afternoon when two bike-borne men arrived there. The accused threatened the women with country-made pistols and forcibly snatched earrings, anklets and other jewellery from them.
When some women tried to resist, the robbers reportedly threatened to kill them before escaping on their motorcycle. The incident created panic in the area, and residents demanded increased police patrolling. A case was registered at Madrak police station, after which teams were formed to trace the accused.
Fresh robbery led police to accuse
Police said the accused struck again on Sunday afternoon. Around 3:30 pm, Pushpa Devi, a resident of Kheda village in the Atrauli area, was returning home with cattle from the fields when two bike-borne men stopped her on Godha Road and snatched her earrings at gunpoint.
Senior Superintendent of Police Neeraj Singh Jadaun said police teams had been carrying out continuous combing operations and checkpoints had been set up across the district for the past several days to catch the accused.
#Aligarh । #AligarhPolice
— ALIGARH POLICE (@aligarhpolice) May 24, 2026
थाना अतरौली, थाना हरदुआगंज, स्वॉट व सर्विलांस की संयुक्त टीमों से पुलिस मुठभेड़ के दौरान 50-50 हजार रुपये के दो ईनामियां बदमाशों की हुई मृत्यु~ बदमाशों के द्वारा एक सप्ताह में लगातार 18 महिलाओं से की गई थी कुण्डल व जेबरात की लूट !
"अवैध… pic.twitter.com/Po5v6nyk6i
He said the two criminals had earlier fired at a police team in the Khair police station area on Sunday morning before fleeing from the spot. Following that incident, intensive checking operations were launched throughout the area.
After Sunday afternoon’s robbery, police received information about the movement of the accused and surrounded them through UP-112 teams. Officers asked them to surrender, but the accused started firing continuously at the police team.
One bullet reportedly hit a police vehicle, while bullets also struck the bulletproof jackets of the station officers of Atrauli and Harduaganj police stations. Two policemen suffered injuries during the encounter.
Police returned fire, killing both accused on the spot. Officials said Raja Mohammad had earlier been accused in at least 27 cases related to robberies targeting women and had targeted 40 to 50 women in total. A rape case against him was also registered at the Dankaur police station.
Police said Raja Mohammad had come out of jail only in the last week of April and had once again started targeting women after regrouping with his gang. SSP Jadaun said Aligarh Police would continue strict action against criminals, and women working in villages and fields need not live in fear.
