PRAYAGRAJ, May 10 -- The Prayagraj unit of the Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a wanted criminal carrying a reward of Rs.50,000 in connection with a Gangster Act case registered at Nizamabad Police Station in Azamgarh district. The accused had allegedly been absconding in the case for a prolonged period, officials said on Saturday. The accused, identified as Rais alias Lambu, is a resident of Parita village under the Nizamabad Police Station area. He was arrested late on Friday near the Bindra Bazaar cut in front of a petrol pump on the Azamgarh-Varanasi National Highway under Gambhirpur Police Station limits in Azamgarh, according to STF officials. Shailesh Pratap Singh, deputy superintendent of police (DSP), STF, said the Prayagraj unit had been continuously collecting intelligence on wanted criminals carrying rewards. Acting on specific inputs received during an operation in Azamgarh, the team allegedly traced and apprehended the accused. The operation was led by inspector Jai Prakash Raj. The arresting team also included inspector Kumar Singh and officers Sanatan Kumar, Rohit Singh, Nishanand and Arai Alok Pratap Pandey, officials said. During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted involvement in several criminal activities carried out in 2024 with his associates in Azamgarh. Police said multiple cases were already registered against him at different police stations in the district, and he had previously served jail time. After the arrest, police registered a case against him under Case No. 30/2026 under relevant sections of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act at Gambhirpur Police Station. Further legal proceedings are underway, officials added....