Notorious criminal shot dead in an encounter

Chennai, Jul 11 (UNI) A notorious criminal, ''Baba'' Suresh, was shot dead in an encounter with the police at R K Nagar area in North Chennai in the wee hours of today.

Police sources said Suresh (28) was involved in more than 30 cases of murder and attempt to murder. He had been detained under the 'Goondas Act' four times.

Suresh, who was lodged in Puzhal Prison, was admitted to the Government General Hospital from where he gave the slip to police on July nine.

Acting on information that he was hiding near the sea shore area of R K Nagar, a special police team, went to arrest him.

But Suresh, who was hiding in a boat, hurled country-made bombs in which four police personnel, including an Inspector Jawahar, sustained injuries. The bombs were so powerful that the jeep, in which the police personnel travelled, was completely gutted.

He also tried to attack the police team with sickles and sharp weapons.

Police opened two rounds of fire in self-defence from their service revolver, killing Baba Suresh on the spot.

The body was taken to the Stanley Medical College Hospital for post mortem. The injured police personnel were also admitted to the hospital.

Chennai City Police Commissioner R Sekar, who visited the encounter spot, said Baba Suresh was a notorious criminal against whom nearly 30 cases were pending.

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