News, Hyderabad:  A former Maoist and gangster, Nayeemuddin who was involved in over 100 criminal cases, including the murder of a former IPS officer, was killed in an encounter by Police today morning in Shadnagar town of Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district.

“In an exchange of fire with local police Nayeemuddin has been killed,” a senior police official in the Intelligence wing told PTI.

According to police sources, a Greyhounds team – an elite anti-extremist force of Telangana police – surrounded a residential neighbourhood in Shadnagar town, about 50 km from Hyderabad, in the morning on a tip-off that some terrorists were hiding in the place

They also vacated surrounding houses as a precautionary measure.

Mohammed Nayeemuddin alias Nayeem and his accomplices shot at the police and they returned fire. After an exchange of fire for about 10 minutes, police entered the hideout and found Nayeem in a pool of blood. His followers are learnt to have fled the spot.

Nayeem, who belonged to Bhongir town in Nalgonda district, worked for the People’s War Group in the late 1980’s. He was instrumental in killing of Indian Police Service officer KS Vyas on January 27, 1993. He was arrested for Vyas’ murder but got bail and turned a gangster.

A video of firing exchange between suspects and police, Shadnagar, TS, @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/Nz5adikEXW

— Mouly Mareedu TNIE (@Mouli_TNIE) August 8, 2016

He was also involved in over 100 cases, besides 20 murder cases including that of surrendered Maoist Sambasivudu, his brother Ramulu, another ex-Maoist Patlolla Goverdhan Reddy and civil liberties leader Purushottam.

He and his gang were involved in land settlements, real estate dealings, illegal arms supply and extortions.