8 police killed, 12 others injured in India's Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI - At least eight police officers were killed and 12 others injured when they were attacked by criminals in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh in the early hours of Friday, confirmed a local police officer over phone.

The encounter between the police and the criminals took place at a village in the state's Kanpur district.

The police were fired upon by criminals when a police team had gone to raid an area in search of a hardened criminal. At least 40 police officers had participated in the operation, said media reports.

According to the media reports, state's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of the eight police personnel who lost their lives.

He also directed the state police's top officials to take strict action against the criminals.