A wanted gangster carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh was shot dead in an encounter early Tuesday morning in Gonda district, police said.
The accused, identified as Sonu Pasi alias Bhura, had 53 criminal cases registered against him, including charges of murder, attempt to murder and under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters’ Act and the Goonda Act.
According to the police, they received information that Sonu Pasi was changing his hideout and heading toward the Saloni Mohammadpur crossing on a motorcycle.
When the police signaled him to stop, he opened fire at them, with a bullet hitting the bulletproof jacket of a policeman, officials said. The police fired back, injuring Pasi, and took him to hospital where doctors declared him dead, they added.
A motorcycle and two pistols were recovered from his possession, it was claimed.
The police said Sonu was wanted in a murder case in which a man was shot dead while trying to catch thieves during a burglary attempt at his house in the Umri Begumganj area of Gonda.
The police launched a manhunt and arrested accused — Brijesh alias Chotu Pasi, Pallu Pasi, and Nanmunna Lodh — after an encounter in which all of them were injured. Sonu Pasi, also named in the case, remained absconding. A reward of Rs 1 lakh was subsequently announced for information leading to his arrest.
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