Police in Muzaffarnagar shot dead notorious criminal Satpal alias Sattu during an encounter near Bamanheri Railway Station. Satpal carried a reward of ₹25,000 on his head. Police wanted him in connection with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a teenage girl from Titawi area.
A joint team of Civil Lines Police Station and the Special Operations Group (SOG) carried out the operation. Police said Satpal opened fire when officers tried to stop his car. The team returned fire and injured him. Doctors later declared him dead during treatment.
Police recovered a pistol, a car, a fake Aadhaar card, cash, a wallet, a mobile phone, and jewellery belonging to the kidnapped girl.
Used Job Offers to Trap Teenage Girls
According to police, Satpal had a long history of targeting teenage girls. He often introduced himself as an army man and approached families looking for jobs for their daughters. He promised to arrange employment and slowly gained their trust.
He frequently visited railway stations, bus stands, religious places, and public areas. After gaining confidence, he convinced girls and their families to meet him for interviews or job-related work. He then kidnapped the victims and took them to other states.
Police believe several such incidents took place across western UP. In many cases, families did not approach the police after finding their daughters, which allowed him to continue his crimes.
Recent Kidnapping Shocked Muzaffarnagar
The latest case involved a teenage girl from Titawi. On June 18, Satpal met the girl’s family at a religious place. He spoke with them and later visited their home. During the conversation, the family mentioned that the girl needed a job.
The next day, he took the girl and her father to the court complex. He sent the father away on the pretext of bringing an Aadhaar card. He then forced the girl into his car and kidnapped her.
Police said he threatened the victim with a pistol and took her to Punjab, where he sexually assaulted her. Later, he put her on a bus and sent her back home. After the complaint, police launched a massive search operation.
Similar Cases Came to Light
Investigators found that Satpal had used the same method in several cases.
In one case, he lured a teenage girl from Rampuri with a promise of employment. While taking her toward Haryana, the girl realised she had been kidnapped. She jumped from the moving car and escaped. People nearby caught Satpal and handed him over to the police. However, no major legal action followed at that time.
In another case from Karnal, Haryana, he visited a girl’s family and claimed that he could arrange a job. He later took the girl to Meerut in the name of an interview. Police registered a case after the incident came to light.
Long Criminal History
Police officers said Satpal’s criminal record goes across four states. He was booked under case of murder, robbery, kidnapping, extortion, sexual assault, illegal weapons possession, and gang-related crimes.
Officials said at least 24 criminal cases were registered against him in Punjab, UP, and other places. He also faced charges under the Gangster Act.
Police linked him to a gang of criminals from Muzaffarnagar. Investigators later connected the group with the network of underworld figure Chhota Rajan.
Former Councillor and Ranji Cricketer
Satpal’s past surprised many people. Police said he served as a councillor in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation in 2007.
He also played Ranji Trophy cricket matches in the 1990s. Officials said he played in tournaments at Mohali and Jalandhar and even shared the field with cricketers who later became famous. Despite his sporting background, he eventually entered the world of crime.
Police records show that he spent many years in different jails, including Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Chandigarh, and Ludhiana.
Escaped From Police Custody
Satpal escaped from police custody on February 6, 2026. At the time, officers had taken him to a civil hospital in Ludhiana for treatment. Police said he often pretended to be ill and used hospital visits to create opportunities for escape.
After fleeing, he moved across western UP and allegedly committed more crimes. Investigators said he used forest routes after crimes to avoid detection. He usually avoided main roads and changed locations frequently.
Encounter Near Railway Station
Senior SP Sanjay Kumar Verma said officers spotted a suspicious car near Rampur Tiraha late at night. When police signalled the vehicle to stop, the driver opened fire and tried to escape toward Bamanheri Railway Station.
The police team chased him and returned fire. During the exchange, bullets struck an SOG vehicle. An SOG officer and a constable suffered injuries.
Police arrested the injured accused and rushed him to the hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on Tuesday afternoon.
With Satpal’s death, police believe they have ended the activities of a criminal who spent years targeting vulnerable families and teenage girls across several states.
