India, Oct. 27 -- Two men accused in separate criminal cases were killed in police encounters in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas and Murshidabad districts on Tuesday after they allegedly snatched firearms from on-duty police personnel and opened fire while attempting to escape, officials familiar with the developments told HT.

Prahlad Das, 23, arrested in connection with the rape and murder of a minor girl in North 24 Parganas, and Samiul Sheikh, 40, held for the murder of a BJP worker in Murshidabad, were shot dead. Das was arrested on Sunday, hours after the body of a Class 11 student, who had gone missing on Saturday, was recovered. Police took him to the crime scene in Gaighata at around 2:50 am on Tuesday for a reconstruction of the...