The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) shot dead a notorious criminal in a shootout at Azamgarh on Saturday morning.Police said the accused, Shankar Kanaujia, was wanted in a robbery-cum-murder case and had a reward of Rs 1 lakh for his arrest.Police said Kanaujia, who had been on the run for over a decade, was injured in a gunfight that erupted when the STF team tried to apprehend him.Following the incident, the team recovered a 9mm carbine, a 9mm pistol, a khukri, and a large quantity of live and spent cartridges from Kanaujia’s possession.According to police, they received information that Kanaujia, along with his gang, was in the Azamgarh area planning a crime. Acting on the tip-off, the police rushed to the Jahanaganj area and attempted to apprehend the accused.On seeing the police, Kanaujia opened fire, narrowly missing the officers. In retaliation, the police team returned fire, injuring the accused. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, said police.The police said that Kanaujia had been a wanted criminal since 2011, when he and his gang allegedly killed a person — by decapitation — during a robbery in the Dohrighat and then went into hiding.Story continues below this adThey claimed that Kanaujia remained on the run for years but continued to commit robberies and other serious crimes.In July 2024, he was reportedly involved in the kidnapping of a person from Maharajganj district, whom he killed after looting his loader vehicle.Police said they are continuing their investigation into Kanaujia’s activities and his possible involvement in other criminal cases.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd