LUCKNOW, June 9 -- Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Sunday night gunned down a notorious criminal during an encounter in Ayodhya district, police officials said. Confirming the encounter, Amitabh Yash, ADG (law and order), on Monday said contract killer Bhanu Pratap Singh alias Bablu Singh, 38, carried a cumulative reward of Rs.1.70 lakh on his arrest. The encounter took place around 11 pm near Ami Ghat under Maharajganj police station after STF's Prayagraj unit received intelligence that Bhanu and an aide were travelling on a motorcycle. According to police, the STF team attempted to intercept the duo, but Bhanu allegedly opened indiscriminate fire with an automatic weapon. STF personnel retaliated, injuring him in the exchange of fire. His aide, however, managed to escape under the cover of darkness. STF inspector JP Rai informed local police and sought reinforcement, following which additional police teams reached the spot and joined the operation. Police said Bhanu was initially taken to the community health centre at Pura Bazar and later referred to the Government Medical College in Ayodhya where he was declared dead during treatment. A resident of Vidhanapar village under Belghat police station in Gorakhpur district, Bhanu had a long record of violent offences. Police records show that 41 criminal cases, including murder, robbery, dacoity, extortion, contract killings, attempted murder and Arms Act violations, were registered against him across Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Ambedkar Nagar and Basti districts. Officials said a reward of Rs.1 lakh had been announced by Azamgarh Police, Rs.50,000 by Ambedkar Nagar Police and Rs.20,000 by Gorakhpur Police, taking the total bounty on his arrest to Rs.1.70 lakh....