Two other members of the gang were seriously injured in the encounter, that took place when the UP police team chased the gang speeding through the Jawaharlal Nehru Road.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detective Department-I), Narayan Ghosh said that from the statement of Manjit Singh, who was injured in the encounter, it was assumed that Singh was a close aide of Babloo Srivastava, said to be Dawood's lieutenant. The gangsters were chased by the police team from the Victoria Memorial ground, and the three were shot dead at the junction of Park Street and Wood Street. The gangsters exchanged fire with the police team as they tried to escape in a Maruti van, but collapsed when the van overturned.

Unofficial reports said the gangsters came to the city to abduct a businessman. An eight-memberpolice team from UP, led by Additional Police Superintendent S V Singh arrived here on December 8 on receiving a tip-off.

Sources said the gang may have arrived at the Victoria Memorial ground to abduct the businessman in the course of his morning walk.

However, no official confirmation was available on this till late this afternoon. West Bengal Chief Secretary Manish Gupta only said, ``Both the State police and intelligence and the UP team are investigating the matter.''

Ghosh said the UP police team was looking for Manjit Singh, charged with cases of extortion, abduction, dacoity and murders. It was also ascertained from Singh's statement that Srivastava, lodged in Naini jail after his arrest in Singapore recently, was maintaining contacts with his accomplices from inside the jail, he told newspersons at the city police headquarters. The UP police team, which was coordinating with the city police, however, carried out the pre-dawn operation alone, ``since they had little time left'', Ghosh said.