LUCKNOW, Aug. 7 -- Two contract killer brothers wanted in the daylight murder of journalist Raghvendra Bajpai were shot dead in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Sitapur police early Thursday morning in the Pisawan area of Sitapur district, police said.

According to additional director general (ADG), law & order, Amitabh Yash, the brothers, Raju Tiwari alias Rizwan and Sanjay Tiwari alias Shibu alias Shaqil Khan, were injured in retaliatory firing and died during treatment.

Police said both carried a reward of Rs.1 lakh each for their alleged involvement in Bajpai's murder on March 8, when the Hindi newspaper journalist was gunned down on the busy Lucknow-Delhi highway under Maholi police station limits in...