Mathura Police Arrest Habitual Offender After Encounter in Govardhan

Govardhan, September 21, 2026: A notorious criminal with an extensive history of legal cases spanning two decades was arrested by the Mathura police during a nighttime encounter in Govardhan on September 20, 2026. The suspect, identified as Neeraj alias Narendra, was apprehended following a confrontation near the e-rickshaw route culvert on the Barsana bypass road. Officials stated that the suspect, who is approximately 41 years old and a resident of Ral in the Jait police station area, currently resides at F-147, Tirkha Colony, near the church in Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, Haryana.

Details of the Police Encounter

According to reports from the Govardhan police, the incident occurred at approximately 00:30 hours while a police team was conducting routine vehicle checks. When officers signaled a motorcycle rider to stop, the individual attempted to flee at a high speed. During the ensuing pursuit, the suspect lost control of the motorcycle and fell. The suspect then allegedly opened fire on the police team with the intent to kill. A bullet fired by the suspect struck the bulletproof jacket worn by Sub-Inspector Sharad Kumar Tyagi. The police team returned fire in self-defense, resulting in the suspect sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg. He was subsequently taken to the Community Health Center (CHC) in Govardhan for medical treatment.

Also Read: Govardhan Police Arrest 59-Year-Old Man with 345 Grams of Alprazolam

Recovery of Stolen Items and Weapons

Upon searching the suspect, police recovered one illegal .315 bore country-made pistol, three empty .315 bore cartridges, one live .315 bore cartridge, two yellow metal chains, and cash amounting to 1,190 rupees. Additionally, a Redmi mobile phone was seized. The motorcycle used by the suspect, an Apache model bearing the registration number UP 80 FE 3996, was identified as stolen; the suspect admitted to police that he had stolen the vehicle from Agra approximately 15 days prior to his arrest. During interrogation, the suspect confessed that the two yellow metal chains in his possession had been snatched from victims in the region. He stated that one chain was snatched near Kusum Sarovar on the Govardhan Parikrama Marg on September 18, 2026, and the second was taken near Ramkutir on the Vrindavan Parikrama Marg on September 19, 2026.

Extensive Criminal Record

The suspect has been linked to cases at the Govardhan police station, including Case Number 486/2026 under section 304 of the BNS, and Case Number 492/2026 under sections 109 and 317(2) of the BNS, as well as the Arms Act. His criminal history is extensive, with records dating back to 2006. Over the last 20 years, he has been named in dozens of cases across Mathura district, including stations in Kotwali, Vrindavan, Refinery, Govindnagar, Raya, and Chhata. These previous charges span a variety of serious offenses, including section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder), robbery, theft, violation of the Gangster Act, and the NDPS Act. The police team involved in the successful operation included Station House Officer Vinay Kumar Mishra, SOG in-charge Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar, Sub-Inspector Sharad Kumar Tyagi, Sub-Inspector Chaudhary Satendra Singh, and several other constables and head constables from both the local station and the SOG unit. The suspect is being processed for presentation before the local court for further legal action.