KATHMANDU: Notorious gangster Kumar Shrestha aka Ghainte has been shot dead, apparently in a police encounter, in the Capital on Thursday.

The Metropolitan Police Circle, Maharajgunj claimed that Ghainte, who was on a motorbike, first opened fire at police in the Kapurdhara area near Samakhusi at around 11:45 am.

In retaliation,  police claimed, security personnel also pulled trigger and injured Ghainte and his friends.

Ghainte reportedly was hit by eight bullets.

Police took him in custody and rushed to the Maharajgunj-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), where he was pronounced dead.

Police, however, said he died during the course of treatment.

Two of his friends have sustained bullet injuries on their legs and are said to be in normal condition.

According to SSP Sarbendra Khanal, in-charge of the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD), three police personnel were also injured in the incident.

They are receiving treatment at the National Trauma Centre.

Police had gunned down notorious gangster, Dinesh Adhikari aka Chari in August last year.

It has been learned that Ghainte, who had been living in Malaysia, had returned to Nepal after the April 25 earthquake. He originally hailed from Nuwakot district and had a house in Kapurdhara-Samakhusi area, behind the Indian Embassy compound.

It is believed that he was close to some leaders of Nepali Congress.