The criminal, who was shot from a point blank distance by Asst Commissioner of Police, Sadanand Wayse Patil, died on the spot. This is the first time in many years that a criminal has been killed in an encounter here with the police and the Commissioner of police, Shripad Kulkarni, said he wanted to send a clear message to law breakers through the incident.``The criminal was shot to be killed, there was no question of sparing him,'' the Commissioner said, briefing newsmen about the encounter this evening.

Two other alleged criminals have also been arrested, police said. Shripad Kulkarni said he was confident that the gang worked in co-ordination with a bigger racket and the arrest of the two others could reveal those behind anumber of robberies that have taken place in the city in the past several months.