The cruel killer from India was shot dead by India police

News24xx.com - A top suspect in dozens of crimes, including the killing of eight police officers last week, was fatally shot on Friday in police custody while allegedly trying to flee, officials said, with critics and opposition politicians calling the killing a staged drama.

Vikas Dubey snatched a gun from officers after their vehicle overturned on a highway near the northern Indian city of Kanpur and tried to flee, police officer Mohit Aggarwal told Associated Press. He said Dubey died in an exchange of fire.

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Dubey, in his 40s, had given himself up in the central town of Ujjain on Thursday after a weeklong search. He was being driven in a police convoy to Kanpur where the eight police officers were killed.

Dubey was on the run for over a week after he allegedly ordered the eight policemen killed. He is believed to have links with state politicians and the police. Two police officers were arrested this week for allegedly tipping him off about a police raid on his home last Friday.

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The gangster had been accused in 60 criminal cases, of various offenses including attempted murder, and talk of his links with police and politicians has been dominating headlines ever since the shootout last week.

Two of Dubey's aides were killed in last week's violence.