Hussain Vastara (Razor) was shot when he was travelling in his Cielo car around 6 pm. Barely had the car entered the narrow Sundar Gali near Kalapani Junction, when five men emerged and sprayed around 20 bullets at the car, police sources added.

An AK-47 assault rifle was believed to have been used in the shootout. Hussain was rushed to Nair Hospital, but he was declared dead before admission.

Hussain assumed the second name Vastara (Razor) in 1994 when he had snatched a razor from a local barber and slashed a rival gangster. As a key informer to the police he provided vital information leading to the arrest of several bomb blasts accused, sources revealed.