Notorious criminal killed in Steel City encounter

JAMSHEDPUR: Police have shot dead Maya Bhagat alias Lulla, a notorious criminal, in Sankosai under Olidih police station early on Thursday. The wanted criminal, in his early 30s, was accused in over two dozen cases involving murder and loot in Bihar and Jharkhand. Lulla belonged to Siwan in Bihar.
Lulla was hiding in a densely populated settlement under the guise of a truck driver for the last few days.However, the police, which was following his movements covertly, shot him dead at the end of 30-minute gunbattle.
"We have recovered three sophisticated pistols, one country-made pistol and three live cartridges from his rented room," police said.
In a bid to escape arrest, Lulla fired a few rounds on the cops, but was killed when the cops returned fire at about 1am. Two police personnel sustained minor injuries in the encounter. According to the police, Lulla's accompolice who was also hiding in the home managed to escape.
Lulla was hiding here following his escape from his native town after firing at the police patrolling team, recently. The Jamshedpur police got a tip off about Lulla's presence in the town following the gun attack on an Amritsar-based businessman in Jugsalai last week.
"The modus operandi of the gun attack on the trader gave hint about Lulla's involvement following which we located his hideout on tip-off,"informed police sources. "We have informed the Siwan police about the development and hopefully the police from Bihar will arrive in a day or two to receive the body," said superintendent of police, city, Karthik S.
The slain body of the criminal has been shifted to the MGM hospital for conducting autopsy. The family members of the slain criminal shall be informed by the Siwan police, said the police here. Four other members of the Lulla gang are currently behind the bars.