LUCKNOW, May 1 -- The prime accused in the sensational killing of three men during his birthday celebration in Bulandshahr was killed in a police encounter early Thursday, officials said. They, however, added that the investigation so far suggests the triple murder was linked to an ongoing rivalry and an alleged bid to assert dominance. Jeetu Saini, 33, who carried a reward of Rs.50,000, died after sustaining bullet injuries during an exchange of fire with a joint police team in Khurja police station limits, about 35 km from the district headquarters. The encounter took place around 5 am when police attempted to intercept two suspects on a scooter during vehicle checking. Police said the suspects ignored orders to stop and allegedly opened fire while trying to flee. The police team retaliated in self-defence and chased them, leading to a brief gunfight. Saini was hit by three bullets, while his accomplice escaped in the darkness. He was taken to a community health centre and later referred to the district hospital, where doctors declared him dead. A search operation has been launched to trace the absconding suspect. Two police personnel were also injured in the encounter. Mohammad Aslam, inspector and Mohit Malik, head constable, sustained injuries and were shifted to a higher medical facility. Ramphal Singh, Khurja station house officer (SHO) and Kapil, constable, escaped serious injuries after bullets struck their bulletproof jackets. Dinesh Kumar Singh, Bulandshahr senior superintendent of police (SSP), said six teams had been deployed to track down the accused. "During vehicle checking, two suspects on a scooter were asked to stop. They attempted to flee and opened fire on the police team, forcing retaliatory action," he said. Police recovered a .32 bore pistol, the scooter used by the suspects, and a large number of live and spent cartridges from the spot. htc...