Gangster 'Seizing' Raja shot dead by police in Chennai

CHENNAI: In yet another 'encounter', notorious gangster 'Seizing' Raja, nabbed from Andhra Pradesh, was shot dead by the Chennai police in Neelankarai early on Monday morning.

He was gunned down when he tried to escape from police custody early this morning.

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Raja was held in connection with state BSP chief Armstrong’s murder.

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Today's incident is the third police encounter in recent times. Days after Armstrong’s murder in July, a prime suspect in the case Thiruvengadam (33), also a history-sheeter, was shot dead in a police 'encounter' while notorious gangster 'Kakkathoppe' Balaji, who was in his late 40s, died in an encounter last Wednesday.

In a video clip accessed by DT Next, Raja's bereaved wife who is holding their one and a half month old child is seen saying that the man wasn't involved in any illegal activity in the two years that they have been married.

She also denied his involvement in the Armstrong murder.

"In the morning, Raja got us tiffin and went out. Then there was no sign of him. Now I heard about his arrest and encounter. I am very scared. He is not involved in Armstrong’s murder. I have evidence... on that day, it was my seemandham. And he was with me. Based on some false information, his name has come up in connection with the case," Raja's wife alleged.