Criminal gunned down by police in Lucknow

A dreaded gangster, who carried a reward of Rs.1 lakh for his arrest, has been gunned down by the police in Lucknow, an official said on Wednesday.

Bichauli Kewat, who had around 18 criminal cases, including murder, abduction and looting, pending against him was shot dead late Tuesday in Ghazipur area.

"Acting on a tip-off, a joint police team and surveillance cell intercepted Kewat and his aides in the Ghazipur area. We asked them to surrender, but they started firing at us. We also retaliated and later Kewat was shot dead during the gun battle," Additional Superintendent of Police Abdul Hamid said.

"There were around four associates of Kewat, who managed to escape from the spot. Efforts are on to nab them," he added.

The notorious criminal primarily used to operate in the Bundelkhand region of the state.