Lucknow Encounter: Suspect in Toddler Abduction and Rape Killed by Police

Incident Overview

A 21-year-old man, accused of abducting and assaulting a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in the Alambagh area of Lucknow, was shot dead by police during an encounter on Friday. The suspect, named Deepak Kumar, allegedly took the child from her sleeping position next to her mother near the Chandanagar Metro station on Thursday.

Search and Investigation

Upon discovering her daughter was missing, the mother searched the surrounding area but was unable to locate her. After several hours, they reported the incident to the Alambagh police station. According to DCP Central Lucknow Ashish Srivastava, a formal complaint was filed on June 5 at 10 am, leading to the formation of five investigative teams. CCTV footage helped identify the suspect as Deepak Verma, prompting a proposal for a reward of Rs. 1 lakh for information leading to his capture.

Police Encounter

#WATCH | Lucknow, UP: DCP Central Lucknow Ashish Srivastava says, "On the morning of June 5, at 10 am, a complaint was registered that a 2.5 year old girl had been raped… A case was registered and five teams were formed… As per the CCTV footage of the scooter, the accused was… https://t.co/dWLxpbzW9t pic.twitter.com/165obhROO6

— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2025

Following a thorough investigation, police apprehended Kumar on Friday. During a brief exchange of gunfire, he sustained injuries and later succumbed to them in the hospital. DCP Srivastava confirmed, "Accused Verma, who was injured in an encounter with the police, has died during treatment."

CCTV Footage and Ongoing Investigation

Social media has seen the circulation of CCTV footage from the incident, which shows a man carrying the child and taking her to a nearby Metro lift. After the assault, the suspect abandoned the girl under a metro bridge, where she was later found. The investigation is still ongoing, according to police reports.