Criminal shot dead in encounter in Naalasopara

Mumbai, Apr 8 (UNI) A dreaded criminal, who had unleashed a reign of terror in Thane district of Maharashtra, was shot dead in an encounter at Naalasopara in the district by officials of the Crime Branch.

Naimuddin alias Firoze Hashmi (30) was wanted in many dacoity cases in Thane.

According to API P Kotmire, Thane crime branch, police received information that Hashmi would be coming to Agarwal Nagri in Naalasopara East, to meet his associates.

''On spotting the accused at around 2145 hrs, we asked him to surrender but he fired two rounds at the police team from his 0.32 pistol. In the subsequent retaliatory firing by police, Hashmi was killed''.

Kotmire said police recovered the 0.32 pistol and one live cartridge from the spot.

Hashmi was wanted in many dacoity cases, which included the sensational robbery at 'Sangram jewellers' in Naalasopara, where 4 kgs of gold was looted by his gang. They had also robbed Chirag jewellers there.

Earlier, Hashmi was arrested in 2003 in Akola District of the state.

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