A murder accused carrying a cash reward of Rs 25,000 was arrested in an encounter with the Special Task Force (STF) team from Gautam Buddha Nagar and Salempur police in Bulandshahr district here in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, a senior police officer said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shlok Kumar said that on specific information the STF team along with Salempur police were checking vehicles at Dhaturi border in the morning. "During checking the police team attempted to intercept a car moving under mysterious circumstances," he said.

He said that when challenged that car driver broke the barrier and attempted to escape but his car crashed into a boundary wall near Chitta Gate village. "On being surrounded by the police the criminal opened fire on the police team and sustained bullet injury in retaliatory firing," he said.

The SSP said that the arrested accused has been identified as Dharmendra, a resident of Faridabad district in Haryana. "He has been admitted to the hospital," he said.

He said that the arrested accused was a hardened criminal and on November 19 night he along with his accomplices killed a youth Sagar. "After this a reward of Rs 25,000 was announced on his arrest," he said.

(With UNI Inputs)