Meerut, Dec. 10 -- Wanted for several serious criminal offences, a history-sheeter was shot dead in a late-night police encounter in Shamli district on Monday, police said. The criminal had a reward of Rs.50,000 for information leading to his capture, they added.

Shamli superintendent of police NP Singh said Samaydeen alias Sama, who hailed from Raizadgan under Kandhla police station limits of the district, had been hiding in Karnataka's Tumkur district. Despite multiple efforts, he had managed to escape police action for years.

The SP said police received information late on Monday night that Samaydeen had returned and was planning to carry out a major crime. Acting swiftly, teams from Thanabhawan and Babri police stations began a coor...