Tamil Nadu - Salem

Gangster shot dead

SALEM: A notorious gangster was shot dead by the police in his hide-out near Panamarathupatti here on Sunday.

The police opened fire in self-defence when Gopi (28), a native of Akkaraipatti in Namakkal district, hurled petrol and country bombs at them in which windowpanes of the car of the city’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Y. John Nicholson were damaged. Inspectors R. Umashankar and T. Gandhi suffered cut injuries.

“We had no other option but to open fire in self defence when he hurled bombs at us,” said Mr. Nicholson. While one bullet hit Gopi’s right chest, another went through his stomach. He was rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Later talking to reporters, City Commissioner N. Chenbaharaman said Gopi, against whom six murders and 60 criminal cases, were pending at various police stations in the State, had been eluding the police for long.

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