Gangster shot dead in police encounter

Chennai, June 7: A notorious gangster, involved in the recent killing of an AIADMK functionary, was shot dead in an encounter with the police at Korattur in the city early today.

Police sources told UNI that the gangster, Nagore alias Nagore Meeran (32), wanted in several criminal and murder cases, was waylaid by a special police team, which tried to arrest him.

He attacked Inspector Rangarajan, Sub-Inspector Jamal and a head constable with a sickle, resulting in injuries.

In self-defence, Mr Jamal opened two rounds of fire from his service revolver killing the gangster on the spot.

The body was taken to Kilpauk Medical College hospital, where the injured policemen were admitted.

It may be recalled that AIADMK Ambattur Town Secretary M R Ravi was performing pooja in his office at suburban Padi when a six member motorcycle-borne gang hacked him to death on Friday last.

Nagore Meeran was said to be one of the key accused in the killing of Ravi.

After one of gang members was arrested by the police, six suspects, including the kingpin ''Vellai'' Ramesh, surrendered before a Magistrate court at Ambur on June five.

The encounter killing of the gangster comes a day after Chennai City Police Commissoner Letika Saran ordered a crackdown on anti- social elements. In a major drive, special police teams rounded up nearly 300 anti-social elements yesterday and arrested some notorious criminals.

UNI