A team comprising Inspector Prabhakar Babar, Assistant Inspector Ravindra Angre and Sub-Inspector Anil Koli and some constables surrounded the gangsters. Kashmiri, a Chhota Rajan aide, was killed in the ensuing shootout but his associates managed to escape. A.32 Webly & Scott revolver and three live rounds were found on Kashmiri's person.

Kashmiri, a former aide of Dawood Ibrahim gangster Chhota Shakeel, deflected to the rival Chhota Rajan faction. He is named 11 murder cases in the city. Police suspect he was the key shooter in the Sohail Maqbool Razzi murder at Yari Road this month. He was also involved in the murder of Iqbal Rauf Khan, Farooque Ladi and AzamDadi.

In the second encounter, a member of the Ashwin Naik gang was shot dead near Opera House in South Mumbai at 6.15 am today. A special squad from Unit-II of the Crime Branch laid a trap for Rajan Sawant alias Raju Gatta near Charni Road station, where Sawant turned up with an unidentified associate. Sawant died in the exchange of fire but his associate escaped.

Sawant, considered to be a dreaded extortionist, was allegedly involved in the firing on the Mayekar brothers at Powai, owners of Plaza cinema at Dadar, a few months ago. He was also involved in the murder of Lambu Gopal at Hotel Saffire at Grant Road early this year.