LUCKNOW, March 29 -- In a swift breakthrough in the Hardoi lynching case, police arrested all three prime accused within six hours of the crime following a brief encounter in the early hours of Saturday. Hardoi circle officer (City) Ankit Mishra said the accused, Atul Kumar, Anoop Pandey and Neeraj Pandey, were intercepted during a checking operation around 3.30 am. According to police, Atul and Anoop allegedly opened fire while attempting to flee, prompting retaliatory action. "In the exchange of fire, two accused sustained bullet injuries in their legs and were overpowered on the spot," officials said, adding that both injured accused have been admitted to a nearby hospital and are out of danger. Police recovered two firearms and cartridges from their possession, while an iron rod allegedly used in the lynching was seized based on the third accused's disclosure. The incident occurred on Friday in the Sursa police station area, where the death of an elderly man in a road accident allegedly triggered a violent attack by a group, leading to the lynching of two youths involved in the incident. htc...