Prayagraj: A criminal Shahnawaz alias Sahil (30) was injured and arrested after an encounter in Fatehpur on Friday. The police recovered a country-made pistol of .315 bore, two unused cartridges, two missed cartridges, Rs 2,000 cash, two mobile sets and a SUV from him.He was admitted to the hospital in Fatehpur for treatment. Police said a team of Kalyanpur police were conducting routine checks near Chaudgara bridge Road when they noticed a suspicious man speeding his SUV. When cops signalled him to stop, he made a futile attempt to escape and moved towards a kaccha road. However, when the police team surrounded him, he opened fire. The cops retaliated, resulting in injury to his left leg while his accomplice managed to escape from the spot.Police said Shahnawaz, a resident of Bisihia village in Pratapgarh, has 28 criminal cases pending against him in Prayagraj and Fatehpur. A police team was dispatched to arrest his accomplice identified as Firoz , a resident of Karari in Kaushmabi district.Police said that Shahnawaz was a member of ‘zehar khuran’ gang and he along with his accomplices had looted three passengers in May and June months on Kanpur-Fatehpur highway.The gang was active between Kanpur and Kaushambi. They used to park their SUV as cab outside railway station or bus stand and take passengers for small distances. On the way, they would offer tea or drink laced with toxic substance to passengers and escape with their cash and valuables.
