A wanted criminal, who was carrying a reward of Rs 1.25 lakh on his arrest, died in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Mauranipur police on Saturday, police sources said here.

Police sources told UNI that the STF team along with Mauranipur police had an encounter with Rashid Kalia alias Gauda alias Beeru in Sitaura village on Jhansi-Khajuraho highway around 7 am.

"In the retaliatory firing Rashid sustained bullet injuries and was taken to Jhansi medical college where doctors declared him dead," they said.

Police sources said that Rashid was one of the main accused in the history sheeter Pintu Sengar murder case which took place in Chakeri area in Kanpur Nagar district in 2020.

"The Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Kanpur zone had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh on Rashid's arrest in this case," they said.

Police sources said that in addition to this a reward of Rs 25,000 was announced on him in connection with a murder case in Nawabad area of Jhansi district. "There were 13 cases lodged against Rashid in different police stations in Kanpur Nagar and Jhansi," they said.

(With UNI inputs)