Overview

• The encounter occurred during an early-morning check near the Sarurpur forest area in Meerut, according to officials.
• The deceased was identified as Shahzad, known as Nikki, a Bahsuma resident with a Rs 25,000 reward and seven registered cases including POCSO violations.
• Police say he fired outside a survivor’s house in Bahsuma hours earlier, fled on a motorcycle, opened fire on officers, and was struck by return fire.
• He was taken to PL Sharma District Hospital where doctors declared him dead, police said.
• Forensic teams gathered evidence at the scene and the body was sent for post-mortem, while reports note this is the seventh fatal encounter in Meerut in 16 days and the 7-year-old victim remains in critical condition.