No let-up in encounters, shootouts

A special squad under senior inspector of police Rafiq Sheikh laid a trap in the area for Ashwin Naik aide Vasant Poojari 30. At around 11.15 pm the gangster was spotted on the pillion of a red Hero Honda motorcycle.

The squad asked the gangsters to halt. However, Poojari opened fire. In the return firing by the police he was killed. The other gangster who managed to escape has been identified as Murli Tewar 27. The duo was named in several cases, including murder, in central Mumbai, the police added.

Meanwhile, notorious gangster Michael Devidas Gaikwad alias Pintya was shot dead in an encounter at Miragaon under the jurisdiction of Kashimira policestation in Thane district early on Monday. Gaikwad was killed at around 2 am when he had come to meet an associate staying in the area. A country-made revolver was recovered from the scene of the crime. Investigations have revealed that though Gaikwad was not affiliated to any criminal gang, he was named in at least a dozen cases in Mira-Bhayander area. He was also very active at Vasai and Manor in Thane district, the police informed.

While, Ghatkopar hotelier Sainath Shetty 39 was shot dead near Radhakrishna Hotel, Malvani Colony, at Malad west around 8.30 pm on Sunday. He was discussing business matters with a relative, Balkrishna Shetty, when three unidentified men accosted them and fired four rounds from point blank range.

The police said Sainath was hit three times and one of the bullets pierced his skull. He was rushed to Bhagwati Hospital but he was declared dead before admission, the police further added. Balkrishna too was injured in the firing. His condition is stated to be out of danger.Police suspect Chhota Shakeel gang could be behind the killing. The shootout seemed to be a fallout of rival gangster Chhota Rajan8217;s elimination of Majid Khan and his two associates at Bandra on March 1, said a senior police officer.

Jeweller shot dead at Dongri

A jeweller was shot dead in his shop while another injured in a shootout at Dongri in south Mumbai this evening.

According to the police, the incident took place around 7 pm when Kailash Jain 35 was inside his shop Paras Jeweller located at the busy Murgi Mohalla, Maimanwada when two unidentified gunmen barged in and opened fire from close range before fleeing.

Another person Sunil Rawani, who was also in the shop, was injured in the firing. It is still not clear whether he is a customer or an employee.

Jain was rushed to J J Hospital with head injuries. However, he was declared dead before admission. Preliminary investigations have revealed that a country-made revolver was used in the firing. Police suspect involvement of ChhotaShakeel gangsters in the shootout.