Bulandshahr (UP), June 21 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday said a hardened criminal carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh was killed by the Noida unit of the state's Special Task Force (STF) in an operation in which two policemen were also injured in Jahangirabad area of Bulandshahr district.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Dr Tejveer Singh said the STF's Noida unit received information that on Friday night some criminals had gathered at the Mill area under Jahangirabad police station area of Bulandshahr district for "big action."

"On the basis of the information, when the Bulandshahr police and Noida STF team tried to arrest the criminals, the criminals started firing at the police. In the retaliatory firing by the police, one of the assailants was injured. He later died in the hospital," Singh said.

He said the police investigation identified the deceased as Vinod Gadaria alias Gurjar alias Fauji alias Thakur, a resident of Ishwarpur Khurkan in Karna police station area of Shamli district. He was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh.

"The police have recovered a pistol, cartridges, and a bike from the spot. It was told that Vinod Gadaria had come to Bulandshahr with one of his companions with a big plan," he said.

Police said Vinod Gadaria has 40 cases registered against him over the years in Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Baghpat for robbery, dacoity and murder.

The SP said that during the encounter, two STF policemen also received gunshot injuries. The injured have been referred to the specialized medical care.

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