Shiv Kumar Patel

Shiv Kumar Patel (died 22 July 2007), also known as Dadua, was a notorious dacoit (bandit) who operated in ravines and forests on the borders between the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Early years

Dadua's first recorded instance of crime was the murdering of Jagannath on 16 May 1978, to avenge the death of his father. He was later arrested.

He had been a member of the Seetharam gang since 1975.^[1]

Rise to infamy

After his release, Dadua joined the ranks of Raja Ragoli, where he learnt the trade from Gaya Kurmi, the gang's co-leader, who is regarded as a major factor behind Dadua's rise.^[1]

In 1983, Raja was killed and Gaya Kurmi surrendered, leaving the gang jointly headed by Suraj Bhan and Dadua. Suraj Bhan was arrested a year later and Dadua formed his own gang at the insistence of Gaya Kurmi.^[1]

Dadua led the massacre in Ramu ka Purwa where he executed nine people on 20 June 1986; he suspected one of the victims, Shambhu Singh, to be a police informer.^[1]

Influence

Dadua's gang include headmen in as many as 500 villages, and his influence extended to 10 assembly segments. In the years before his death he tried to bring his family into mainstream politics. At the time of his death, his son Beer Singh Patel was the chairman of the Karvi panchayat and Bidhan Sabha member of Lucknow. His brother Bal Kumar Patel was a parliament member of Delhi. His daughter Chironji Devi Patel (Block pramukh dhata,Distt-Fatahpur). Batija Shri Ram Singh Patel was member of Bidhan Sabha for Lucknow and twice lost assembly elections.^[1]

Death

He was shot along with several gang members in a fight with members of the Indian Police Service.^[2][3]

References