CID to probe killing of 'slain' criminal in UP encounter

Lucknow, Dec 10 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh police today said the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department would probe yesterday's dramatic encounter in Kanpur in which a wanted criminal, already 'killed' by police four years ago, was shot dead.

Additional Director General of Police (Crime/Law and Order) Brij Lal said the CB-CID had been entrusted with the task of probing the incident.

The Kanpur (Dehat) police had yesterday gunned down a notorious criminal, who was escaping after firing at two people.

Interestingly, in 2003 officials of the same police station had claimed to have killed Nirmal Katheria. A magestrial probe after the encounter too had stated that the slain criminal was Katheris. The then station officer of the police station Sia Ram Maurya had taken credit for killing Katheria.

The history-sheeter had a heated exchange of words with Laate Mubarakpur village residents Ram Kishan and Ashok Gupta.

He was absconding after targetting the duo, when cops laid a trap and eliminated the hardened criminal.

Police also swooped upon his accomplice Rajendra. The other gang members, however, managed to escape.

In the ensuing encounter, three policemen, including station in charge J N Pandey, were also severely wounded and admitted to hospital.

A pistol, a double-barrel gun and a large number of cartridges were recovered from the spot, police said.

After the encounter, when police realised the folly, it admitted that the criminal killed in 2003 was another history-sheeter identified as Pappu.

UNI