Chennai, Sep 18
Notorious gangster Kakathope Balaji, wanted in more than 50 criminal cases including murder, was killed in an encounter with the police in Chennai.
The encounter occurred in the wee hours of Wednesday.
A team of cops had gone to Vyasarpadi in Greater Chennai to arrest Balaji in a pending case. According to the Greater Chennai Police, the gangster attacked the cops with deadly weapons and police had to resort to firing which led to the death of the gangster.
Kakathope Balaji was earlier attacked by a rival gang led by Sambo Senthil, a wanted criminal in the murder of BSP state president K. Armstrong, in the busy Anna Salai in Chennai in March 2020. Bombs were hurled at Balaji and another gangster CD Mani but the duo had escaped unhurt.
Notably, this is the second encounter death by the Greater Chennai Police in recent days. History-sheeter K. Thiruvengadam, who was a prime accused in the murder of Tamil Nadu BSP president, K. Armstrong, was gunned down by cops on July 14 near Madhavaram Lake premises where he was brought as part of evidence collection.
Police had then said that Thiruvengadam, wanted in several criminal activities including murders, tried to attack them after his handcuffs were removed and that they had to fire at him leading to his death.