VARANASI, Nov. 8 -- A criminal with a reward of Rs.50,000 on his head was shot dead in an encounter with a joint team of special task force (STF), special weapons and tactics (SWAT), and officers from Sidhari police station, near Jokhara Bridge in the Raunapar police station area of Azamgarh district on Friday, based on received information, police said. Police stated that the SWAT team and personnel from the Sidhari police station were patrolling the area to gather clues about a recent snatching incident reported in the Sidhari police station area. During this time, the STF received information that some criminals were fleeing towards the Raunapar police station area. Acting on the information received, a joint team comprising the STF, SWAT, and Sidhari police station set up a cordon near Jokhara Bridge in the Raunapar police station area. On spotting the police, the criminals opened fire with the intent to kill. The police retaliated using necessary force in self-defense, officials said. One criminal was injured in the exchange, while three others took advantage of the darkness to escape. Police teams have been deployed to track down and arrest the absconding suspects, authorities added....