In a significant police operation, Ashu alias Monty, an alleged sharpshooter with a ₹50,000 reward for his capture, was killed during an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force and Moradabad police in the Civil Lines area of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. The operation was initiated based on intelligence that he was planning a major crime with associates near an under-construction marriage hall. During the encounter, Ashu opened fire at the police, leading to retaliatory action that resulted in his injuries. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Ashu was wanted for serious offenses, including an attempt to murder and extortion of ₹5 crore from a local businessman. With a criminal record spanning approximately 36 cases, including murder and robbery, he had previously been jailed in 2010 for murder, after which he became associated with the notorious Udham Singh gang. Police recovered a car, a .32 bore factory-made pistol, a revolver, and a significant amount of ammunition from the scene. Investigations are ongoing to uncover further details about his criminal activities.