Wanted man shot dead in gunbattle with Ghaziabad police

Ghaziabad, May 16 (IANS) A man wanted in over 25 criminal cases was shot dead here in a gunbattle with police early Saturday, officials said.

'At around 4.00 a.m. three men in a car were going towards the Aradhna cinema area of Ghaziabad. When at a checkpost, policemen asked them to stop, they opened fire at the policemen,' Senior Superintendent of Police Akhil Kumar said.

'The policemen returned fire and one of the men sustained gunshot injuries. The other two men managed to escape under the cover of darkness,' Kumar added.

The injured criminal was taken to the hospital, where he was declared dead. From the documents found in his possession he has been identified as Virendra Sharma alias Pappu.

Sharma was wanted by Meerut police in over 25 cases. There was also a reward of Rs.40,000 for his arrest, police said.