Meerut, Oct. 19 -- A criminal carrying a bounty of Rs.1 lakh was killed in a police encounter in Shamli district in the early hours of Saturday, the police said. Absconding for three years, the criminal, identified as Mohammad Nafees, was wanted in 34 criminal cases, including charges of murder, robbery, and dacoity, according to the police. Superintendent of police Narendra Pratap Singh said the police received a tip-off about Nafees's presence near Bhabhisa village. Acting swiftly, the force cordoned off the area and asked him to surrender. Instead, Nafees opened fire on the police team, prompting retaliatory action, according to the police. During the exchange of fire, Nafees sustained bullet injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. One of Nafees's associates managed to escape during the operation, and efforts are underway to trace him. Senior police officers reached the encounter site to oversee the situation, while the body was sent for post-mortem examination. Police identified the deceased as Mohammad Nafees, resident of Khail locality at Kandhla village and son of Mohammad Mooda. Authorities said he had been absconding for the last three years. The SP said a list of all active wanted criminals in the district has been prepared, and a special drive has been launched to track and apprehend them. "The operation against such offenders will continue until they are either arrested or neutralised," he stated. Following the encounter, police recovered a .32-bore pistol, a .315-bore country-made gun, seven cartridges (including two used and five live ones), and a motorcycle from the scene. The seized weapons have been sent for forensic testing. According to official data, from March 2017 to July 2025, the Uttar Pradesh Police have neutralised 238 criminals in encounters across the state....