Criminal shot in encounter in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal, Aug 1: A criminal, who made a murderous assault along with a couple of accomplices on two police constables, has been shot dead in an encounter by city police.

Ratan Thakur made the assault in broad daylight on Saturday along with Shyam and Vishal at Kalpana Nagar after the personnel pursued and halted the trio on a motorbike sans registration number.

''A reward of Rs 15,000 was announced for his arrest. Information was received that the accused was hiding in the vicinity of the nearby Misrod bypass road. A team led by senior officers immediately left for Misrod,'' Superintendent of Police A K Singh said today.

Thakur, who was hiding near a village, opened fire on observing the personnel. The accused fired five rounds while the police fired 19. He was killed in retaliatory firing and a crude pistol seized late last night.

The accomplices have surrendered at the District Court. Thakur stood accused of about two dozen cases including murder, attempt to murder and loot.

UNI