Kolhapur (Maharashtra): Notorious gangster Suresh Dhanaji Manchekar from Thane was killed in a police encounter early August 15.

Acting on a tip-off that Manchekar (38) was to arrive in Kolhapur, Thane police team laid a trap near Hotel Ujjwaldeep, police control room sources said.

The gangster was spotted in a private van near Central bus stand at the underground Parikh bridge at around 02:15 hours (IST) when police asked him to surrender.

He fired at police prompting them to return fire in self-defence. When Manchekar came out of his vehicle, he was wounded in police firing.

The gangster was taken to Chhatrapati Pramila Raje government hospital where the doctors declared him dead on arrival, police said.

However, the driver of the vehicle managed to flee from the spot, police added.

Manchekar was involved in several cases of murder and extortion. He had formed his own gang in the 90s and was active in Thane region. He had targetted businessmen and doctors for extortion. He was also allegedly involved in the murder of trade union leader Datta Samant in Mumbai.

Only a week ago, a Sessions Court in Mumbai had sentenced Manchekar's mother and two members of his gang to life imprisonment on the charge of murdering a builder. Manchekar himself was shown as absconding in this case.

The gangster had created a reign of terror in Thane region and had gone underground for the last few years, police added.

PTI