Rajan man killed in encounter

On a tip-off, police had cordoned off the area near Sainik Garden for Sandip Khandekar, a close associate of Rajan. The gangster was spotted riding pillion on a black Yamaha during the search operation at around 10.35 pm.

Police sources said Khandekar opened fire at the police party when he was asked to surrender. However, he was seriously injured in the subsequent exchange of fire, police claimed.

While Khandekar8217;s unidentified aide managed to escape under cover of darkness, he was declared dead before admission to Shatabdi Hospital. The officers recovered a prohibited bore revolver for him, allegedly snatched from a constable attached to Nehru Nagar police at Kurla E in May this year.

Police said the slain gangster was named in more than a dozen cases related to murder, attempt to murder and extortion in and around Ghatkopar. A resident of Kirol village, Vidyavihar, the gangster was very active in the northern suburbs after joining hands with Rajan.

Ten gangsters have been killed in separate encounters in the last one month. Of these, three have been key Rajan hitmen.