Lucknow, Nov 17 (IANS) A man, who was wanted in several criminal cases, was shot dead by the police Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district, an official said.

The incident took place in Izzatnagar locality on the Nainital highway of the district at around 4 a.m. when Rajesh was killed in a gunfight with officials of the state's Special Task Force (STF). A cash reward of Rs.50,000 had been announced for his capture.

'Rajesh, a native of Moradabad, was going to Haridwar to meet his sister. But he somehow came to know that we were after him and he got down from the train at Bareilly station,' Additional Superintendent of Police (STF) M.K. Jha told IANS.

'He was on a motorcycle when we challenged him and Rajesh was killed in the exchange of fire,' he said.

'Rajesh has over two dozen cases, including those of murder and extortion, against him and he escaped from police custody in 2004 from Bareilly while being taken to court for a hearing,' Jha said.

Bareilly is about 450 km from Lucknow.