Notorious gangster Kumar Shrestha alias ‘Ghainte’ has died in a police encounter at Kapoor Dhara in Samakhusi on Thursday.

A team from Metropolitan Crime Division, Teku, shot Ghaite and two of his allies during the encounter. Ghainte, shot at his chest and thigh, was rushed Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj where he succumbed to his injuries.

Pratap Narayan Sah, chief of emergency department of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), confirmed his death.

SSP Sarbendra Khanal, chief of Metropolitan Crime Division, Teku, informed that a police team from the division had opend shots at Ghaite in self-defense when he and his members opened fire at the police team. The police team had gone to arrest the gangster and his gang members after receiving tips about his hideout.

Two of his allies, Surendra Maharjan and Raj Maharjan, were also injured in the shooting. Police have impounded a pistol and three motorcycles from the incident site. Police has cordoned off the crime scene and carrying out further investigation.

Situation tense at Teaching Hospital

Meanwhile, the situation outside the TUTH has remained tense after cadres of Nepali Congress, including leader Jagdish Narsingh KC, gathered at the hospital to protest against his death. Dubbing the death as a 'revenge murder', they have been chanting slogans against police atrocity and demanding resignation of Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam.

A contingent of riot police arrived at the hospital to contain the situation.

Ghaite is understood to be closely associated with Nepali Congress especially with NC’s General Secretary Arjun Narsingh KC and party leader Jagdish Narsingh KC. Nepali Congress had appointed him as the sub-coordinator of an earthquake relief mechanism formed by the party. PM Sushil Koirala had bidden him farewell for the party-led relief campaign during a programme at PM’s residence in Baluwatar.

He had kept a low profile following the death of another gangster Dinesh Adhikar but surfaced following the earthquake of April 25.

A press briefing was held in Teku. Present at the briefing were Metropolitan Police Commissioner's Office Chief AIG Bigyan Raj Sharma, Chief of Kathmandu Polic SSP Uttam Karki and Lalitpur Police Clief Pitambar Adhikari were present.

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