PATNA, June 14 -- A criminal was killed in a police encounter late Friday night in rural Patna after allegedly opening fire on a police team, injuring two officers, including an additional SHO of the Masaurhi police station, officials said. The deceased Mohammed Haider had a criminal history and was wanted in a kidnapping case, officials said. Police said that at around 7:15 pm on Friday, Masaurhi police received information that some miscreants had abducted a youth and were holding him near Manichak Pond, barely 400 metres from the police station. A police team led by additional SHO Rahul Kumar, ASI Sanjay Kumar and other police personnel rushed to the spot in plain clothes to rescue the abducted youth. Upon seeing the police team, the criminals opened fire on the police, officials said. Rahul received a bullet injury in his leg while Sanjay sustained an injury on his hand. Both were rushed to AIIMS where their conditions are reported to be out of danger. City SP (East) Parichay Kumar confirmed the incident, stating that about 12 bullets were fired from both sides, and that the police also rescued the kidnapped youth after the encounter. "In retaliation and self-defence, police fired back. Afterward, an injured criminal and his associates fled the scene under the cover of darkness," said the city SP. Officials said that the police team chased the accused and learned that injured Mohammad Haider was first rushed to Punpun Health Centre, where a doctor referred him to PMCH. However, Haider's associates took him to a Raja Bazar-based private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. City SP said that Haider was a history-sheeter criminal and was released from Masaurhi sub-divisional jail only three months ago....