On a tip-off, a special squad attached to unit-II of the crime branch laid a trap for Mohammed Irfan Yasin Sheikh alias Nikko (35) on K K Marg (Mahalaxmi bridge) near Race Course. When he was spotted with an unidentified associate at around 4.35 pm, he was asked to surrender. However, according to the police, the gangster instead pulled out a countrymade revolver and fired three rounds at the squad.

Sheikh was seriously injured in the subsequent exchange of fire and rushed to R L Nair Hospital, where he was declared dead before admission. But his associate managed to give the police a slip.

A revolver, three live rounds and three empty cartridges were recovered from the scene of crime. Two members of the police squad, assistant police inspector A Ahire and constable C Salvi were also injured in the firing.

Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Sunil Paraskar saidSheikh was named in at least 19 serious offences in the metropolis, including extortion, dacoity, attempt to murder and robbery.

According to police records, Sheikh, a key associate of the Karachi-based gangster Chhota Shakeel, was very active at Sakinaka, Bhandup and Bandra. He was also involved in a series of offences under the jurisdiction of Nagpada and L T Marg police stations.