Saturday, June 11 2005 18:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhopal: Shahid Khan, a drug smuggler having links with South Africa-based don Khalid Pehalwan and Malaysia-based don Chota Dawood was killed in an encounter with the Special Task Force (STF) at Sillewani Ghati near Chhindwara city of Madhya Pradesh today (Jun 11, 2005), police said in Bhopal.

Three policemen, including an inspector and sub-inspector, also sustained minor injuries during the encounter held early this morning, Inspector General (IG) of Police (STF), Vijay Yadav told sources in Bhopal.

Acting on a tip-off that Shahid Khan alias Shahid Kalia was travelling from Nagpur to Chhindwara on a motorcycle with one of his accomplice, Chhindwara police and STF laid a trap in Mohkheda police station, he said.

On seeing the police party, Shahid and his accomplice, who were trying to escape into nearby jungles, opened fire at the police as soon as their bike skidded on the dirt road, he said adding in retaliatory fire, Shahid sustained bullet injuries and was rushed to the Chhindwara district hospital, where he was declared dead.

Efforts were on to nab his accomplice who escaped into the jungles, Yadav said.

One-and-half kg of brown sugar, a .32 pistol with three live cartridges and a box of 12-bore cartridges were also recovered from him, Chhindwara Superintendent of Police Vivek Sharma said.