GHAZIABAD: The main accused in the brutal murder of a 17-year-old boy in Ghaziabad was shot dead in a police encounter early Sunday morning, May 31. The accused, identified as Asad, had been absconding after allegedly stabbing Class 11 student Surya Pratap Chauhan to death following an altercation on Eid-ul-Adha.
Following the murder on May 28, a massive manhunt was launched by the Ghaziabad Police Commissariat, and a bounty of ₹50,000 was announced for Asad’s capture.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Trans-Hindon) Dhawal Jaiswal, police received a crucial intelligence tip-off late Saturday night that Asad was planning to visit the Khoda area to collect money from some associates before fleeing the city. Acting on this, a joint team from the Khoda and Indirapuram police stations set up barricades and launched an intensive combing operation.
During the check in the Vasundhara area, police spotted Asad arriving on a motorcycle with an accomplice. When the officers signaled them to stop, Asad reportedly opened fire on the police team. In the ensuing retaliatory firing, Asad sustained critical gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead. A police constable stationed at Khoda also sustained injuries during the crossfire and is currently undergoing treatment. While Asad’s accomplice managed to escape the scene in the dark, police recovered a motorcycle and a country-made pistol used by the accused.
The Brutal Murder of Surya Chauhan
The encounter stems from a shocking crime that took place on the afternoon of May 28, coinciding with Bakrid celebrations.
Surya Pratap Chauhan, a resident of Navneet Vihar in Khoda Colony, was lured out of his home by the accused. According to police investigations and family testimonies, Surya and Asad were known to each other but had a dispute earlier in the day over riding a motorcycle.
Later that day, Asad and his associates allegedly invited Surya over under the pretext of celebrating Eid. When Surya arrived near Sharma Dairy, he was ambushed. The victim’s sister stated that multiple attackers, all armed with knives, chased him down and stabbed him repeatedly. Reports indicate that the knife wounds were exceptionally deep.
Believing him to be dead, the attackers fled the scene. Surya was rushed to a local hospital and later referred to a private facility in Noida, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries on Friday, May 29.
Arrests and Aftermath
The murder sparked significant outrage in the Khoda area, with locals and Hindu organizations staging protests to demand strict and immediate justice. Heavily armed police personnel were deployed in the neighborhood to maintain law and order, and local shops remained shut in protest.
The police registered an FIR naming five individuals based on the complaint filed by Surya’s brother. Prior to the encounter, three accused were swiftly arrested, including Asad’s father, Nawab, and two associates named Farhan and Atif.
During police interrogation, shocking details emerged. Farhan reportedly confessed that after the initial altercation over the bike, Nawab encouraged his son to attack Surya, allegedly telling Asad to “finish his story today” and even supplying the weapon.
With the primary accused now deceased, the victim’s grieving family is demanding strict action and severe punishment for all the remaining co-conspirators involved in the fatal attack on the teenager.
