Police shot and arrested gangster Ashok Lama after a brief gunbattle in Lalitpur on Monday at UN Park. Lama, 38, is accused of extorting and threatening businessmen in the Valley.

Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) Superintendent of Police and Spokesperson Narendra Uprety said the arrest is part of a 15-day campaign against theft, robbery and extortion in the Valley. After the shooting, an injured Lama, 38, was admitted to the National Trauma Centre at Mahankal. The gangster has minor bullet injuries on his right leg below the knee.

Trauma Centre Medical Officer Dr Rajendra Khadka said, “It is a minor injury. He will be discharged within two days. He is normal.” The hospital was teeming with journalists and people curious to know about the incident. Police fired two rounds of bullets at Lama after the MPCD spotted him near the UN Park and tried to arrest him. Lama was a fugitive for a long time. Talking to the Post, SP Uprety said, a team of MPCD was forced to fire at him, after he first fired at police around 1:15pm on Monday.

“We had no option, but to return fire after he first fired at us,” said Uprety. Police recovered a rusted gun and two bullets from the gangster. The police were hunting Lama, after businessmen from Satdobato and Bhainsepati complained against him for extortion and issuing death threats.

The crime division said Lama, a member of the notorious Dewa Lama gang, has been threatening and extorting from people.

Police will press Arms and Ammunition Act-1962 charges against Lama. He could get one year imprisonment or Rs100,000 fine or both.