MEERUT, Oct. 7 -- A wanted criminal, Imran, carrying a reward of Rs.1 lakh, was killed in an encounter with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Saharanpur police and Sarsawa police late on Sunday night. Police said Imran was a close aide of gangster Mehtab, who was shot dead in Muzaffarnagar two days ago. Both were accused in several loot and dacoity cases across western Uttar Pradesh.

Imran, a resident of Sonta Rasoolpur in Shamli district's Thana Bhawan area, was allegedly involved in a major dacoity in Sarasawa and had been absconding. Along with Mehtab, he reportedly led a gang active in Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, and Saharanpur, accused of robbery, dacoity, and extortion. The ADG of Meerut Zone had earlier announced a Rs.1 lak...