Pune, June 15  – A 23-year-old man, wanted in multiple criminal cases including murder and extortion, was killed in a police encounter in Maharashtra’s Solapur district in the early hours of Sunday, officials confirmed.

According to a senior police official, the deceased has been identified as Shahrukh alias Atti Rahim. He was a known member of an active criminal gang and had been evading arrest for several months. Law enforcement agencies had launched a targeted operation to apprehend him based on intelligence inputs.

“Shahrukh was involved in several heinous crimes, including murder, extortion, and threats. He had become a threat to public safety. Acting on specific information about his whereabouts, a team of officers tracked him down near Solapur in the early hours today,” the official said.

When the police attempted to apprehend him, Shahrukh reportedly opened fire, forcing the police to retaliate. In the ensuing encounter, he sustained critical injuries and was declared dead at the hospital.

The police recovered a weapon from the site, and further investigation is underway to identify the rest of the gang members and uncover more details about their activities. The body has been sent for post-mortem, and a detailed report is expected soon.

Local authorities have tightened security in the region to prevent any untoward incidents following the encounter. The case has drawn attention due to the rising incidents of gang-related crimes in parts of Maharashtra, prompting calls for stricter policing and faster legal actions.

The encounter has been registered as per protocol, and a magisterial inquiry has been initiated.