Lucknow, June 23 (IANS) A criminal wanted for murder shot and wounded a police officer and a police spy when he was about to be arrested in Uttar Pradesh. He then went on a shooting spree, killing a village head and injuring two men and women each. The dramatic incident involving Durgesh Jatav unfoled Sunday night at Tundla in Uttar Pradesh, about 400 km from here, the police said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police O.P. Singh was shot in the neck and police “informer” Bhuvanesh in the stomach during the botched raid in Firozabad district. They had reached a hideout to trap Jatav, wanted in over two dozen cases including murder and kidnappings.

Another police “informer”, Titu, who was also with the police, was not hurt.

Jatav escaped from there and reached Titu’s village Shailai to take revenge, Firozabad Superintendent of Police V.P. Singh said.

Jatav shot and injured Titu’s brothers Vimal and Jitendra. He then proceeded to Titu’s house and assaulted his wife.

As the villagers started gathering, Jatav fled from there and reached the adjoining village Garhaura.

There, he shot dead village head Shyam Singh Baghelas, who he thought was also a policy spy. “He also shot Baghela’s wife,” V.P. Singh said.

All the injured men and women were stated to be out of danger.