The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has achieved a major success in Gonda district. Akash Yadav, a criminal wanted under the Gangsters Act and carrying a reward of ₹50,000, has been arrested. The arrest of this long-absconding suspect is considered a significant breakthrough in several cases related to robbery and organized crime.
According to information received, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested Akash Yadav, a wanted accused in Crime No. 22/2025, Section 3(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act, registered at the Dhanepur police station in Gonda district. A reward of ₹50,000 was announced on the accused and he had been eluding police custody.
The arrested accused is Akash Yadav, son of Indral Yadav, resident of Devrikala, Thana Dhanepur, Gonda district. The Special Task Force (STF) received information that the accused was present in front of Katra Railway Station in the Nawabganj police station area and was attempting to escape. Based on this information, the STF team laid a siege and arrested the accused on February 1, 2026, at 1:10 p.m.
This action was carried out by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) as part of a campaign against reward-declared and active criminals. In this campaign, various field units of the STF were instructed to continuously gather information and take prompt action. In this regard, the team, under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police, STF Lucknow, Mr. Vishal Vikram Singh, was continuously gathering inputs.
During interrogation, accused Akash Yadav admitted that he has an active criminal gang that commits robbery and snatching. He stated that his gang includes Sumit Tiwari, Sandeep Maurya, Aditya Kashyap, and Hartu Kashyap, among other members. The accused also admitted to carrying out several crimes with his associates.
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The incidents confessed by the accused include robbery by putting chilli powder in the eyes in Kotwali Dehat police station area on 23 April 2024, robbery of Rs 40,000 in Nawabganj police station area on 29 April 2024, robbery of Rs 9,000 and mobile phone in Khargupur police station area on 21 May 2024 and robbery incidents in Materiya police station and Dhanepur police station area on 02 June 2024.
The accused has several previous criminal cases registered against him, including Crime Nos. 165/2024, 167/2024, 135/2024, 153/2024, 142/2024, and 22/2025. He has been absconding since a case was registered under the Gangsters Act in 2025.
The arrested accused has been booked under Section 3(1) of the Gangsters Act, Crime No. 22/2025, registered at Thana Dhanepur, Gonda district, and further legal action is being taken by the local police. Police officials say that this arrest will effectively control crime in the area and help in reaching other criminals associated with the gang.
