Northern India: 8 policemen killed in shootout

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) - Eight policemen including a deputy superintendent were killed in northern India on Friday in a shootout with criminals, said a police official.

The incident took place in a village in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh state, some 495 kilometers (307 miles) from the capital New Delhi.

Deputy Superintendent Divendra Kumar Mishra, three sub-inspectors, and four constables were killed in the village of Dikru, said the official.

Two of the shooters were killed by the police.

Police teams had gone to the village in search of a alleged gangster, Vikas Dubey, who faces 60 criminal charges including murder, rioting, kidnapping, and extortion.

Hitesh Chandra Awasthi, Uttar Pradesh director general of police, said in a statement: “Eight policemen died while seven others were injured when the assailants opened fire at the police team.”

A team of senior officials have been rushed to Kanpur from the state capital Lucknow.