Kanpur: “We feel like Vikas Dubey might come back one day", this sentiment echoes through Bikru village in Kanpur, even five years after the infamous Bikru encounter case. On the night of July 2, 2020, gangster Vikas Dubey and his men ambushed police personnel, killing eight officers including a DSP. Despite Dubey being killed in an encounter days later, his terror still looms.
Once a hub of parallel justice, Dubey’s luxurious home is now a desolate ruin. Windows shattered, walls crumbling, wild trees have grown through the premises. Furniture, bullet casings, and even signs of luxurious furniture and infrastructure still remain as evidence of his powerful lifestyle.
Locals like Om Prakash Dubey, whose son Praveen Dubey was killed in an encounter, say the village has never recovered. “We celebrate festivals, but the spirit is gone. Over 15 villagers are still in jail. Many houses have remained locked for years.”
Another resident, Amit Kumar, says no one dares enter Dubey’s house. “He used to settle every dispute here. Today, even minor scuffles summon the police.”
Om Prakash recalls how DSP Devendra Mishra, wounded during the ambush, ran into a neighbor’s house pleading, “Sister, save me!” Minutes later, he was shot dead by Dubey’s men. The blood stained door still bears bullet marks.
Neighbor Ram Narayan recalls hearing continuous gunfire from his fields. “We thought it was a family dispute. By morning, we realized it was a massacre.”
Six men, including Dubey, were killed in police encounters, but his psychological hold on Bikru remains. Even today, villagers glance over their shoulders, unsure if the man who once ruled them with bullets might return from the shadows.
