Uttar Pradesh: Man Who Attacked Suresh Raina's Relatives In 2020 Shot Dead In Police Encounter

The man was wanted in several cases of dacoity and murder, including the murder of three relatives of cricketer Suresh Raina in Punjab in 2020, police said.

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New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Police shot dead a criminal, wanted in the 2020 attack on cricketer Suresh Raina's relatives, in Shahpur area in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday evening, news agency PTI reported.

"Rashid alias Chalta Firta alias Sipahiya, who carried a cash reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, was killed in an encounter," PTI quoted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjiv Suman as saying.

According to the SSP, two motorcycle-borne men opened fire on the police personnel, who had intercepted the duo based on a tip-off that the members of an inter-state gang were staying in Shahpur police station area.

In a retaliatory firing, Rashid was killed while his associate managed to escape. Two firearms were recovered from Rashid’s possession, police added.

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In the encounter, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahpur, Bablu Singh, also sustained a bullet injury and was shifted to a hospital. Efforts are underway to nab Rashid's associate, the SSP said.

It is to be noted that Rashid was wanted in several cases of dacoity and murder, including the murder of three relatives of cricketer Suresh Raina in Punjab in 2020, police said.

The incident took place in Pathankot's Tharyal village on the intervening night of August 19 and 20. Raina's uncle, Ashok Kumar, a contractor by profession, had died on the spot, while his son, Kaushal, succumbed to injuries on August 31. Kumar's wife Asha Rani and two others were injured.

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“Those criminals should not be spared to commit more crimes,” Raina posted in his appeal to Capt. Amarinder Singh, the then chief minister of Punjab.

According to police, three alleged members of a gang from Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan were among those arrested in the case so far.