VARANASI: A criminal wanted for murder, robbery, cow smuggling, and theft and carrying a Rs 50,000 bounty was killed in an encounter with a joint team of Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, Azamgarh SWAT team and Sidhari police in UP’s Azamgarh district late Thursday. “Waqif had at least 67 cases against him for murder, robbery, cattle smuggling and theft in Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Sant Kabir Nagar and Jaunpur districts,” a police officer said. Three of his aides managed to flee and efforts were on to nab them. Police received information regarding the movement of wanted criminals near Chhoti Saryu river in the district’s Jokahra village. When a police team intercepted them, the criminals allegedly opened fire. Waqif was killed in retaliatory firing, cops said.