Gorakhpur: A criminal carrying a reward of Rs 15,000 on his head was arrested after a police encounter in Khajni area of Gorakhpur on Wednesday morning. He was wanted in an extortion case.The injured criminal was admitted to the district hospital. He was identified as Jitendra Paswan alias Laden (35), a resident of Bhiti Khoriya village in Khajni. He has 19 cases of crimes including murder, robbery, extortion and Gangster Act charges registered against him at various police stations across the district.SP South Dinesh Puri said that police received information that Paswan, who had been absconding for several days, was heading towards Unwal via Jarlahi bridge for executing a major crime. Teams from Khajni police station and the Anti-Theft Cell set up a vehicle-checking operation near the bridge.Around 3.15 am, police spotted a suspicious motorcycle rider and signalled him to stop. He allegedly attempted to escape but lost balance and fell down. Police surrounded him and asked him to surrender, but he opened fire with a country-made pistol.Police retaliated, injuring him in the left leg before taking him into custody. A pistol, cartridges and a motorcycle without a number plate were seized from his possession.
