A gangster, who was allegedly involved in several murders in Chennai and was suspected to be a prime accused in the murder of an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam functionary, was shot dead in an encounter this morning, even as the police claimed the shoot-out was an 'act of self-defence'.

Initial reports said the gangster, Nagoor Meeran, suspected to be a prime accused in the murder of AIADMK official M R Ravi, was shot dead when he tried to flee after a police team surrounded him.

City Police Commissioner Lethika Saran later told the media that the cops opened fire on him only after he hurled a country bomb at them and attacked them with a sickle.

Saran said based on a tip-off, the police surrounded Meeran, who travelling on a two-wheeler, at around 4.45 am in suburban Korattur. "While we were trying to arrest the history-sheeter, he hurled a country bomb and also injured an inspector with a sickle. A sub-inspector fired at him in self-defence, killing him on the spot. An inquiry has been sought into the incident," Saran said.

"Meeran is involved in four murder cases including the most recent one of Ravi. We have evidence that Meeran was present at the scene of the murder on June 2," Saran said.

An investigation showed that Meeran and others were hired killers. Meeran had been evading arrest, Saran said. One of Meeran's associates and another prime accused in the Ravi murder case had been arrested earlier and six others had surrendered recently.