PRAYAGRAJ, Sept. 20 -- A man accused of raping his two-year-old niece was injured in a police encounter and nabbed late on Thursday night near the Jagdishpur culvert in Patti area of Pratapgarh. The accused sustained a bullet injury to his leg during an exchange of fire with the police team, police said. According to the police, the incident occurred after the child's mother had gone to the nearby market to buy vegetables in a village under Patti police station on Wednesday evening. The victim, who was playing outside her house, was allegedly taken by her uncle on the pretext of going for a walk. He then reportedly took her to a nearby secluded forested area and sexually assaulted her. Her screams alerted local villagers, prompting the accused to flee the scene. After the victim received medical attention, her mother filed an FIR against the accused on Thursday. The police immediately launched a manhunt. On Thursday night, sub-inspectors Vijay Yadav and Anish Kumar Yadav spotted a suspicious man near the Jagdishpur culvert. When they tried to stop him, the man opened fire at the police. In retaliatory firing, he was hit in the right leg. A country-made firearm (.315 bore) was recovered from him, and he was taken to the Patti Community Health Centre (CHC) for treatment, said circle officer (Patti), Manoj Raghuvanshi. He said that the accused will be sent to jail after being discharged from the hospital. In connection with the murder of 16-year-old Vikas Patel near Rajapur Airstrip about two weeks ago, Pratapgarh police have arrested another accused. The murder was reportedly over a love affair, police said. The police had earlier arrested five accused in the case. On Thursday night, sub-inspectors Pramod Kumar and Ajit Singh apprehended the main accused, Nitin Kumar, near Bhupiyamau crossing. He was later sent to jail, police added. htc...