Motorcycle-borne Adhikari opened fire at a police team from the crime investigation division, Hanumandhoka, and the police officials fired back in self defence, police said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pushkar Karki of the crime investigation division said they had kept a special vigilance in the area following complaints from businessmen of threatening calls from Adhikari.

Police have recovered an automatic gun and a round of bullet at  used by Adhikari at the scene. “His activities looked suspicious. When police started following him, he opened fire. We knew that he was Chari only when his helmet came off after he fell down on the road,” said SSP Karki, adding that bullets were lodged in Adhikari’s chest, stomach and hands. His body has been taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for post-mortem.

Nicknamed ‘Chari’ or ‘bird’ for his ability to evade arrest, police have been searching Adhikari for attempted murder, a string of extortion, assault and possession of arms and running illegal business. Police sources say Chari had returned from hiding in India two weeks ago.

Chari had begun his notorious deeds since 2003, abetting Kumar Shrestha “Ghainte” in Samakhusi and other areas.

According to police, he was initially involved in extorting money from local businessmen and slowly started building his own networks.

It is believed that he left “Ghainte” in 2008 to operate his own “business”. He was at large after shooting at one Niranjan Silwal in Nayabazaar in 2008.

In September 2009, Chari had surrendered to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Office after he was labelled an ‘infamous gangster’ as police had a shoot-at-sight order if he tried to escape.

He was released by Kathmandu District Court on May 25, 2010 after only nine months in jail.

The gangster is believed to have robbed around 40 kgs of Yarsagumba, the Himalayan Viagra on several occasions.

More recently, Chari was on the spotlight on July 6 when he was shot at by one of his gang members Radhe Bhandari on his way to Kathmandu from his home in Dhading district. The bullet had gone past Chari’s right arm, leaving him injured.

Police had later arrested Chari too after it was revealed that a pistol used by Bhandari actually belonged to Chari.

Adhikari is said to have gifted the weapon to Bhandari when the latter used to work for him.

Once he was out of police custody, Chari inflicted a serious injury on Bhandari in revenge attack in January this year and was at large ever since.

Considered a close aide to CPN-UML leader KP Oli, Adhikari is also believed to have been involved in the shoot-out of Nepali Congress (NC)member Min Krishna Maharjan in Lalitpur earlier this year. Police arrested prime accused Ramesh Bahun from India.