“A former Army officer, accused of murdering three people in Chandauli district, Uttar Pradesh, was killed in an encounter,” a police officer said on Tuesday (May 12, 2026), adding that two personnel, including a sub-inspector, were also injured.
Superintendent of Police Akash Patel said the killer was identified as Gurpreet Singh (46), a resident of Amritsar, Punjab. Singh was accused of randomly killing two people in a train and a person at a hospital within 24 hours.
The encounter took place on Monday (May 11, 2026), at around 10.30 p.m., when Singh was being taken to Sakaldiha village to recreate the crime scene.
“En route, Singh snatched a pistol from a policeman and attempted to flee by firing at the team,” the superintendent of police said. “When chased by the police, Singh fired at them again, but was shot in the chest and abdomen in retaliatory fire, Mr. Patel said.
“Singh was taken to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. A sub-inspector and a constable also sustained gunshot wounds and are undergoing treatment at the hospital,” Mr. Patel added.
Giving background details of Singh, Mr. Patel said that after retiring from the Army, the 46-year-old worked as a security guard in Bihar. However, he was dismissed due to excessive alcohol consumption, and as a result, his mental condition worsened. Singh carried out his first murder on May 10 while travelling between Prayagraj and Chandauli.
“In the morning, Singh killed a man named Mangru, a resident of Zamania in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh, on the PDD-Tarighat Passenger train,” the superintendent of police said.
“Subsequently, around 2 a.m. on May 11, Singh shot another passenger in the head while travelling on the Jammu-Tawi Express,” he added. Then on the same day, Singh entered a private hospital posing as a patient and murdered a patient, Laxmina Devi, a resident of Bhabhua in Bihar.
After shooting her in the temple, Singh tried to flee, but a crowd apprehended him and handed him over to the police. Mr. Patel said during interrogation, Singh denied having any personal vendetta or dispute with the three victims he murdered. “The body of Singh has been sent for post-mortem examination,” Mr. Patel said.
