Wanted man held after gunfight in Noida, 3rd encounter in 3 days

A man wanted in half-a-dozen criminal cases was held here on Wednesday following a gunfight with the police, in a third such encounter in as many days in Gautam Buddh Nagar, officials said.

Accused Anil alias Padaka was held in Phase 3 police station area on the FNG-Pusta Road in the city this evening, the officials said.

"Anil was carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 on his arrest. He got a bullet injury during the encounter with the police and was taken to hospital for treatment and then taken into custody," Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna said.

"The accused is a native of Hathras. He had six cases of loot, robbery and murder registered against him at Gautam Buddh Nagar and Bulandshahr. He was wanted by the Phase 3 police station for two cases of loot and murder from 2017 and 2018," he said.

An aide of Anil managed to give police the slip during the encounter, and combing operations are underway in the nearby areas to trace and arrest him soon, the officer said.

A firearm and some ammunition was seized from the possession of the accused, he added.

On Tuesday, a gangster carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 and wanted in nearly a dozen cases of loot and illicit liquor trade was held after a gunfight with the police in Greater Noida.

On Monday also, the Noida Police had nabbed after a gunfight, Sachin Thakur, the mastermind of the sensational robbery at the corporate office of Mahagun Group. Thakur, carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his arrest, was held from Phase 2 police station area after he got hit on his leg with a bullet, the official said.