Kalaburagi, Aug 2 (DHNS): Notorious rowdy Mallikarjun Badiger alias ‘Kari Chirathe’ was killed in an encounter with the police near Naganahalli on the outskirts of the city on Tuesday morning.

Three policemen—DySP S S Hullur, head constable Anand and constable Shrishail- were injured after the rowdy shot at them. They have been admitted to Basaveshwara Hospital and their condition is said to be stable.

There were as many as 11 cases against against Badiger (21), a resident of Nandur on the outskirts of city. He was wanted in murder, extortion and robbery cases. He was among the five rowdies from Kalaburagi district against whom provisions of the KCOCA had been invoked for the first time in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

Inspector General of Police (Northeastern Range) Alok Kumar told reporters that Badiger had been at large after he came out on bail on May 19.

Injured DySP S S Hullur

On Monday, he had robbed two people, Devendrappa and Nagendra, and tried to rob another near Nandur.

Around 4 am on Tuesday, DySP Hullur received information that Badiger was hiding at Ashraya Colony near Kesaratagi. After cordoning off the area, a team comprising Hullur, MB Nagar Circle Inspector Shanthinath and others rushed to apprehend him. Badiger and his three aides tried to escape on two bikes.

Shanthinath opened fire in the air asking them to surrender. While his aides managed to escape, Badiger’s bike skidded and he fell down. Shanthinath then fired a bullet at him and the rowdy was injured in the leg. Despite the injury, Badiger fired back at police and the DySP was hit in the chest.

“Luckily, the officer was wearing a bulletproof vest and the bullet hit his arm,” the IGP said.

Shanthinath again fired at the rowdy, injuring him. “Though Badiger was rushed to the hospital, he was declared dead on arrival by the doctors at the district hospital.”

As per the Supreme Court directions, the case will be probed by additional SP of Bidar to ensure free and fair investigation, Alok Kumar said.