A 27-year-old man accused of abducting, sexually assaulting and murdering a seven-year-old boy was killed in a police encounter in Hardoi district early on Wednesday, officials said.
A police official said that the victim, a resident of Mallawan police station area, went missing after attending a local fair on May 1. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE) According to police records, the accused was a ‘habitual offender’ with at least 12 cases registered over the past five years across Kannauj and adjoining districts. His criminal history included charges under the POCSO Act, theft, robbery and the NDPS Act.
Hardoi superintendent of police (SP) Ashok Kumar Meena said the accused, Mahnoor alias Shahnur alias Menuddin, was carrying a ₹50,000 reward declared after the child’s body was recovered on Tuesday. He said the encounter occurred around 3am near Babatmau, about 50 km from Hardoi city, during a checking drive.
The SP stated a suspicious motorcyclist was signalled to stop but attempted to flee and opened indiscriminate fire.
“In retaliatory firing, he sustained a bullet injury to the chest,” the officer said. He was taken to the district hospital, where he was declared dead. Special Operations Group in-charge Rajesh Kumar was injured in the exchange of fire and is undergoing treatment.
Another police official said th
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