In a significant breakthrough in the Gorakhpur murder case, Uttar Pradesh Police arrested the fourth accused, Rahim, on September 17, 2025, following a police encounter in a joint operation involving teams from Gorakhpur and Kushinagar districts. Rahim, identified as a key suspect in the brutal killing of 19-year-old NEET aspirant Deepak Gupta, sustained injuries during the exchange of fire and is currently under medical treatment. The incident occurred in Mauachapi village, where Deepak was stabbed to death on September 15 after confronting a group of cattle smugglers.
The case stems from a confrontation between Deepak, a medical student from Gorakhpur, and alleged cattle smugglers, including Rahim, Chhotu, and Raju, who were transporting cows through the village. Deepak intervened, leading to a violent altercation where he was stabbed multiple times and succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. Two other accused, Chhotu and Raju, were arrested earlier without resistance, while the search for the remaining two suspects has been intensified. Gorakhpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raj Karan Nayyar confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with forensic teams analyzing evidence from the crime scene.
High-Level Meeting and Directives
Additional Director General (ADG) Amitabh Yash convened a high-level meeting at the Circuit House in Gorakhpur, attended by top officials including District Magistrate Om Prakash and SSP Nayyar. During the session, ADG Yash instructed the team to take the “toughest possible action” against all involved parties, emphasizing swift justice and enhanced security measures in the area. He also met with Deepak’s grieving family, assuring them of comprehensive support and a thorough probe.
The encounter with Rahim took place late Tuesday night near the Kushinagar border, where police teams tracked him based on intelligence inputs. Rahim allegedly opened fire upon spotting the officers, prompting retaliatory action that left him injured in the leg. He was subsequently apprehended and shifted to a hospital under heavy security.
Akhilesh Yadav’s Scathing Attack on BJP
Reacting to the developments, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav sharply criticized the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, questioning the timing of the encounter and accusing it of staging such operations to mask governance failures. In a statement on X, Yadav remarked, “When an official went from Lucknow to Gorakhpur yesterday, the encounter was already decided. Law and order won’t improve through encounters. If you give police stations to people of your own caste, law and order won’t be maintained. They conduct encounters to hide their failures. Encounters are just a show.”
Yadav further highlighted recurring crimes in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s home constituency of Gorakhpur, stating, “This is not the first incident… Law and order is collapsing in Gorakhpur.” He pointed to similar cases in Ghazipur, Kaushambi, and Gorakhpur, alleging that the government’s authority and police effectiveness have eroded. Additionally, he took a dig at the BJP’s cow protection agenda, claiming that beef exports have “increased” since the party came to power, undermining their promises.
The SP leader’s comments have reignited the political blame game between SP and BJP, with the latter defending the police action as necessary to curb crime in sensitive areas. This case, occurring in Yogi Adityanath’s stronghold, has drawn national attention to UP’s law and order situation ahead of upcoming elections.
