Gurugram, Oct. 16 -- A 32-year-old man wanted in connection with at least 45 criminal cases was killed in an encounter with police near the Gurugram border early Thursday, following a 12km chase during which 25 to 30 rounds were allegedly exchanged between the police and three men fleeing in a Thar carrying two cattle, officers said. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Shahid alias Advani, a resident of Kharkhari village in Tauru, Nuh. Police said two of his accomplices managed to escape and a search was underway to arrest them. A judicial inquiry has been ordered into the encounter. The incident took place around 4am near Bhirawati village on the Nuh-Gurugram border. Shahid sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen and was rushed by the police team to the Sohna subdivisional hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. According to police, Shahid had 45 cases involving rape, attempted murder, robbery, ATM heists, cattle smuggling and slaughter, and firing at police registered against him in Gurugram, Nuh, Rewari and Palwal in Haryana, and in Rajasthan, between 2005 and 2023. Officials said the total number of cases could exceed 50, as more FIRs had been registered against him in the past two-and-a-half years. He had also been declared a proclaimed offender by a Nuh court. A senior police officer said a crime branch team from Firozpur Jhirka had received information about suspected cattle smuggling and set up a vehicle-checking operation near Badlaki on the Nuh-Sohna road. "However, the suspects fled on spotting the checking and police gave chase. The suspects opened fire at the crime branch from the speeding Thar and police returned the fire," the officer said. The team alerted other police units over the wireless, following which additional crime branch teams joined the pursuit and nearby police stations were put on alert. Investigators said the chase continued for nearly 12km before a team comprising personnel from the Nuh City crime branch and Rozka Meo police station intercepted the Thar near Bhirawati. Police said Shahid jumped out of the vehicle and tried to flee on foot, but was shot in the abdomen during the encounter. His two accomplices allegedly continued firing at the police team before escaping. Police said a countrymade pistol, several live and spent cartridges, and the vehicle were seized from the spot. Fake number plates were also recovered from inside the vehicle, while two cattle found tied inside were rescued....