In a significant development in the murder case of journalist Raghavendra Bajpai in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, the two prime accused shooters were killed in a police encounter on August 7, 2025. The operation, conducted by a joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the Special Operations Group (SOG), took place near Dullhapur Tiraha in the Pisawan police station area. Superintendent of Police (SP) Ankur Agrawal confirmed that the investigation into the case remains ongoing.
The shooters, identified as Raju Tiwari alias Rizwan and Sanjay Tiwari alias Shibbu alias Akil Khan, both residents of Atwa village under Mishrikh police station in Sitapur, were wanted in connection with the murder of Raghavendra Bajpai, a journalist with Dainik Jagran. Each carried a bounty of ₹1 lakh. The encounter occurred early Thursday morning when the police, acting on a tip-off, attempted to apprehend the suspects. The shooters opened fire on the police, who retaliated, resulting in the duo sustaining fatal injuries. They were rushed to the Pisawan Community Health Centre and later referred to the district hospital, where they were declared dead.
SP Agrawal announced that the police team involved in the operation has been awarded ₹1.25 lakh by senior authorities for their success. Items recovered from the shooters included a .32 bore pistol, a 9mm carbine, two .315 bore country-made pistols, nine live 9mm cartridges, four spent 9mm cartridges, ten live .32 bore cartridges, eight spent .32 bore cartridges, seventeen live .315 bore cartridges, one spent .315 bore cartridge, a keypad mobile phone, nineteen bike keys, two photocopies of Aadhaar cards, a pocket diary, and a Splendor motorcycle with registration number UP 32 MS 5575.
The murder of Raghavendra Bajpai, which took place on March 8, 2025, on the Lucknow-Delhi National Highway near the Hempur railway overbridge, had sent shockwaves across the state. The 36-year-old journalist was shot dead by bike-borne assailants who fired multiple rounds, hitting him in the shoulder and chest. Earlier investigations revealed that the killing was orchestrated by Shivanand Baba alias Vikas Rathore, a priest at the Karedev temple, who hired the shooters for ₹4 lakh to silence Bajpai. The journalist had reportedly witnessed the priest in a compromising situation with a minor, prompting the murder plot to prevent exposure. Three other accused, including Shivanand Baba, Nirmal Singh, and Aslam Ghazi, were arrested and jailed earlier.
While the encounter has been hailed as a major breakthrough, the deceased journalist’s wife, Rashmi Bajpai, expressed dissatisfaction, alleging the police conducted the operation covertly without informing the family, despite earlier assurances of transparency. SP Agrawal responded by stating that he would meet the family to share all relevant details and address their concerns.
The police continue to investigate whether additional individuals were involved in the conspiracy. The case, registered under sections 126(2), 103(1), and 61(2)A of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Maholi police station, remains under scrutiny to ensure all aspects of the crime are thoroughly examined.
