Lucknow: An Official claimed on Saturday that in an encounter, Lucknow Police killed one accused of the gang rape and murder of a lady close to the Malihabad area. Police said the victim was on her way to her brother’s residence in Chinhat when the accused veered off course to the Malihabad area, where she was raped and killed.

The second culprit, Dinesh Kumar Dwivedi, had already been caught by the cops; Ajay Dwivedi vanished from the scene. On him, police had declared a Rs 1 lakh reward.

An informer told the cops Friday night that Ajay was preparing to leave Lucknow. DCP Vishwajeet Srivastava said that police set up a checking station close to the Devam Hotel and saw the accused around 9:30 p.m.

“He attempted to escape when an effort was made to halt a suspect on a motorbike, but his motorcycle skidded… He aimed his pistol toward the cops. DCP Vishwajeet Srivastava said police shot in self-defense.

After that, the accused was brought to the hospital, where he passed away from his injuries, DCP said.