The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has neutralised another high-profile criminal in an early morning encounter. Siraj Ahmad, a dreaded gangster from Sultanpur carrying a reward of ₹1 lakh on his head, was killed in an exchange of fire in Saharanpur's Gangoh area on December 21. While the police are hailing this as a major victory against organized crime, the massive turnout at his funeral has raised eyebrows across the nation.
Siraj, 36, had a terrifying criminal history with over 30 cases, including murder, attempt to murder, and charges under the NSA and Gangster Act. He was the prime accused in the sensational 2023 murder of Advocate Azad Ahmad in Sultanpur. Intelligence reports suggested his deep-rooted links with the Mukhtar Ansari gang and indicated he was plotting a major crime in the Punjab-Haryana border region.
However, the real shocker came on Monday evening during his burial in Sultanpur. Despite his criminal reputation, over 4,000 people reportedly filled the streets to attend his funeral. The sea of people at the funeral of a man the state deemed a major threat has prompted analysts to question whether this stems from local support, fear, or underlying social tensions.
ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash reiterated that the state’s crackdown on mafias will continue unabated. Nevertheless, the massive gathering at Siraj’s funeral highlights a complex challenge for the administration: while encounters can remove criminals from the streets, uprooting their influence from society remains a daunting task.