The shootout took place at 7.45 am, when three unidentified hitmen alighted from a green Maruti van and fired five rounds from close range at Laxman Basu Kunder, who was standing near Dharuwala Compound near Marve Road junction.

Kunder (30), who sustained four chest wounds and an injury to the temple, was rushed to Bhagwati Hospital, where he was declared dead before admission. Eyewitnesses said the hitmen, who had fled after firing the shots, were aged around 25 years. The hitmen are yet to be held, but their van was later found abandoned a few hundred meters from the shootout site.

It's not clear if Kunder had any gang affiliations though he was charged with murder in 1997. Only three hours later, police foiled an attempt by five armed dacoits to loot a petrol pump cashier when he was en route to depositing money at theMalad branch of Union Bank. His car was trailed by a white Maruti 1000 and intercepted near New Eros cinema. The dacoits alighted from their vehicle and, armed with choppers, tried to snatch the bag containing cash. But constable Vasudev Bhakre escorting the cashier drew his rifle and fired at them. The thieves took to their feet and disappeared down a bylane, abandoning their car.