LUCKNOW: A criminal carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on any information leading to his arrest was killed in a police encounter in Sultanpur district on Monday after he opened fire on a joint police team, officials said.
The accused identified as Talib was named in 17 cases including a recent case of gangrape in Kheri.
According to police, the encounter took place under the Lambhua police station limits after inputs were received about the movement of Talib alias Azam Khan, a notorious criminal wanted in multiple serious cases. Talib, son of Gaffar Khan, was a resident of Gauriya village under Fardhan police station in Lakhimpur Kheri district.
Acting on the tip-off, teams of Sultanpur Police and Lakhimpur Kheri Police jointly launched a combing operation and laid a cordon in the area.
"When the police team attempted to intercept him, Talib allegedly opened indiscriminate fire with the intention of killing the police personnel. The police retaliated in self-defence, during which the criminal sustained bullet injuries. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, where doctors declared him dead during treatment," said Kunwar Anupam Singh, Superintendent of Police, Sultanpur.
Police said Talib was a hardened criminal with a long history of violent offences. As many as 17 criminal cases were registered against him in different police stations, including cases of serious nature.
SP Singh said that due to his continued involvement in crime and absconding, a cash reward of ₹1,00,000 had been declared on his arrest.
Superintendent of Police, Sultanpur, Kunwar Anupam Singh, further added that the operation was conducted in accordance with law and standard operating procedures.
“The criminal opened fire on the police team with an intention to kill. The police retaliated in self-defence. He was injured in the encounter and later declared dead by doctors. Further legal formalities are being completed,” the SP said.
Police have initiated inquest proceedings and informed the local magistrate.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the criminal was involved in any recent offences in the region.
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When not covering crime, he reads fiction, roams around the dark ...
Read MoreWhen not covering crime, he reads fiction, roams around the dark alleys of the city in the dead of night. An MA (English Litt) from University of Lucknow, Pathikrit loves to speak French, well at least a smattering of it. He did his graduation in French language. A recipient of the Road Safety Fellowship of the United Nations, Pathikrit drives cautiously and advises others to do that too.
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