Absconding criminal gunned down

Rae Bareli, May 16 (UNI) Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police gunned down an absconding criminal in Bachrawan area here today.

The slain criminal, Santosh Pandey, was carrying a reward of Rs 20,000 on his head and was accused in the murder of two police constables earlier this year.

A carbine and an automatic sten gun were recovered from the encounter spot, STF sources said.

Santosh had more than 36 cases of heinous crimes, including murder, loot and kidnapping registered against him.

On the evening of January 6, Santosh was being escorted back to Pratapgarh jail aboard the Pratapgarh-Rae Bareli passenger train, when his gang members killed two police constables, Vir Bahadur Singh and Man Singh.

The criminals fled with the service rifles of the slain cops.

Santosh had entered the world of crime in 1996. In 2003, he escaped after a court hearing in Sultanpur. However, he was arrested and sent to jail in 2004.

UNI