Wanted criminal killed in Ghaziabad encounter

The Ghaziabad police shot dead a wanted criminal in an encounter early on Sunday. The police said Sanjeev (35),alias Heera Thakur,was wanted in around 17 cases of loot,murder,kidnapping and rape. A resident of Bihar,Sanjeev was currently staying in Madangiri in Delhi.

The police said Sanjeev was approaching Hapur in a Tata Indica along with two friends. SP (Rural) Surendra Sharma said the criminals were under surveillance and when local intelligence informed the police of their arrival in Hapur,the police formed a team to catch them.

Verma said Sanjeev had a reward of Rs 25,000 on him. “We warned them after they were surrounded. But they fired at the police and in the cross-fire Heera was shot dead. His friends escaped as it was dark,” Verma said.

The police have recovered an Italian 9 mm pistol,half a dozen SIM cards,a PAN card and a driving licence,along with some other documents from Sanjeev.