Meerut, Oct. 14 -- A man accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls, was shot dead in an encounter with Sarurpur police on Monday morning. The accused, identified as Shehzad alias Nikki, carried a reward of Rs.25,000 on his head and was a resident of Mohammadpur Sakist village in Bahsuma police station area. About nine months ago, he had assaulted a five-year-old girl. Earlier, he had also been jailed for assaulting another minor. After being released, he repeated the offence, prompting a months-long police hunt to track him down. On Saturday night, Shehzad allegedly fired gunshots outside the victim's house, threatening her family to withdraw the case or face dire consequences. According to SSP Vipin Tada, police had been on his trail since that night. On Monday morning, when a team from Sarurpur police station was conducting vehicle checks near Joda Piau on Sardhana-Binoli road, a man on an unnumbered motorcycle appeared. When stopped, he opened fire at the police. The police retaliated, and a bullet hit him in the chest. He identified himself as Shehzad alias Nikki before being taken to Meerut District Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. htc...