Uttar Pradesh ATS kills TSPC commander Brajesh Ganjhu in Varanasi encounter

Brajesh Ganjhu, a commander of the Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) and a fugitive for roughly two decades, was killed in a police encounter in Varanasi on Sunday morning. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad said he was wanted in over 50 cases involving murder, extortion, kidnapping, attacks on police and possession of illegal weapons, with a total reward of ₹30 lakh on his head. Intelligence indicated his movement through the Sonbhadra-Mirzapur corridor, prompting surveillance that led officers to intercept two men on a motorcycle near GT Road.

When challenged, the suspects opened fire; the ATS returned fire, fatally wounding Ganjhu, who later died in hospital. Police recovered two pistols, a carbine, ammunition and ₹1 lakh in cash, while an associate escaped. The operation concludes a long-running pursuit but leaves numerous cases for further investigation.