Two criminals shot dead in encounter in UP

Two criminals were killed in an encounter with police in Harduaganj area here on Thursday.

They were identified as Mustaqeem and Naushad, who carried a bounty of Rs 25,000 each on their heads, the police said.

Police tried to stop the motorcycle-borne criminals at a checkpost. Instead of stopping, the duo opened fire at the police, leading to a chase and exchange of fire, they said.

The two were injured grievously in the firing and rushed to the district hospital, where they were declared brought dead, they said.

A police inspector was also injured in the encounter.

Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Sahani told reporters that before Mustaqeem and Naushad died on the way to the hospital, they confessed that they were also involved in the killing of two sadhus earlier this month.

However, Naushad's mother, Shaheen, refuted the charges.

She alleged that the police picked up her son and Mustaqeem from their house in Atrauli.

Shaheen said the two were innocent and did not have any criminal record as the police claimed.

Former Aligarh MLA Haji Zameer Ullah alleged the encounter was fake and demanded a high-level probe into the incident.