Punjab Police on early Saturday shot dead a wanted criminal and arrested two of his accomplices in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district after a brief encounter, said a senior police officer.
The encounter took place in Naina Devi, famous for a hilltop Hindu shrine.
"A team of Punjab Police was chasing gangsters, who snatched a car from Sohana in Mohali (in Punjab). As the police signaled the criminals, one of them fired at them. The police retaliated and fired back. One of the criminals died in the process," Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar told IANS.
The dead criminal was identified as Sunny Masih of Gurdaspur in Punjab, he said. Two others -- Amanpreet and Goldy -- were arrested.
Two policemen also received gunshot injuries.
Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal and other senior police officials visited the encounter spot.
According to the police, several criminal cases have been registered against the criminals in Punjab. They belonged to Pathankot-based Jaggu gang.
The encounter spot, nearly 130 km from the state capital, is located close to Punjab.
--IANS
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