A criminal wanted in connection with several cases in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi and a key member of  Hashim Baba Gang was killed in an encounter with police in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district during the early hours of Saturday.

The deceased identified as Anil alias Sonu Matka ( 39) who hails from East Gokalpur in Delhi allegedly shot dead a property dealer and his nephew on Diwali this year, and was also wanted in the Karol Bagh robbery of Rs 1.5 crore in 2022.

He was critically injured in an encounter during a joint operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell and UP Special Task Force (STF). Later, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment at the hospital.

Matka was wanted in connection with several crimes in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, including the killings of a man and his nephew in the national capital's Farsh Bazar area and was also carrying a bounty of Rs. 50,000.

The encounter broke out in the early hours of Saturday in Merrut's TP Nagar area after the police received input about his location. The operation, carried out by the Special Task Force (STF) in collaboration with the Delhi Police Special Cell, resulted in an exchange of gunfire.

Matka sustained injuries and succumbed during treatment, the police confirmed. “He was involved in several serious crimes, including a spate of robberies and murders across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh,” he added.After the encounter, the police seized two sophisticated pistols, 10 live rounds and a bike from Sonu Matka. "The encounter took place in the jurisdiction of TP Nagar police station. The joint operation was conducted by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Delhi Police's Special Cell," Additional Director General of Police (STF) Amitabh Yash said.

The officer added that the Baghpat native was involved in numerous cases of robbery and murder in both Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

"During the encounter, Matka suffered critical injuries and subsequently succumbed to them while undergoing treatment," Yash said. The police are investigating the matter.

In a statement, STF Meerut SP Brijesh Singh said, “Sonu Matka was an infamous gangster from Delhi. The Special Cell of Delhi Police received input about his location in TP Nagar Ved Vyas Puri. Delhi Police informed the STF about the input. In a joint operation, both teams reached Ved Vyas Puri at 7 AM.”

Earlier on September 24, The Delhi Police special cell interrogated gangster Hashim Babba in connection to the killing of a Delhi Gym owner Nadir Shah.

Hashim Baba was taken into custody by the special cell from Tihar jail on a production warrant. Police sources said Hashim Baba and associates planned the killing of Nadir Shah from inside the Tihar jail. Depite a crackdown on gangsters using mobile phones inside jail after the killing of Sidhu Mosewala the gangsters were able to use phones to plot the killing.