MEERUT, July 14 -- The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) shot dead Shahrukh Pathan, a wanted sharpshooter with alleged links to the gang of Sanjeev Maheshwari alias Jeeva and gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, during an encounter near Bijopura Tiraaha on Chappar-Rohana Road in Muzaffarnagar early Monday.

According to STF additional superintendent of police (ASP) Brijesh Kumar, the gunfight began around 1:05 am after the team received a tip-off about a suspicious vehicle in the Chapar area. The STF set up an ambush to intercept the car. Shahrukh Pathan, 34, a resident of Khalapar in Muzaffarnagar, allegedly opened fire on the STF team, discharging over 10 rounds.

He was critically injured in retaliatory firing and declared d...