PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 4 -- The police in Prayagraj caught three known criminals in two separate encounters within 24 hours. Two of the men were shot in the leg during the incidents and are now being treated in hospital. Police said all three have criminal records, and further legal steps are being taken against them. The first encounter happened late Thursday night near DPS crossing in the Naini area, under the trans-Yamuna zone. During a joint operation by the Naini Police and the Special Operations Group (SOG), police tried to stop two men on a motorcycle during a routine check. The men fired at the police and tried to escape towards Ganga riverbed. In response, police fired back, injuring one man, identified as Rahul Pasi of Mundera Bazar. He was caught at the spot. His partner, Vijay Kumar from Pipri in Kaushambi district, was caught after a short chase, said SHO Brajkishore Gautam. Police found Rs.86,500 in cash, a country-made pistol, live bullets, and the motorcycle used in the crime. The two men were also involved in a chain-snatching case in ADA Colony on September 29. In another case on Wednesday night, police had an encounter near Sarai Lal Khatun on the Ring Road, under the Soraon police station area. A man named Tabrez, who was wanted for cattle slaughter cases, was caught after being shot in the leg. He was taken to hospital for treatment. Tabrez, a resident of Araish, has nine criminal cases against him, including charges related to illegal cattle slaughter. One of his partners managed to escape in the dark. Police recovered a country-made gun, one live bullet, one used bullet, and a motorcycle from the scene. htc...