Mandiri's wanted criminal, Vicky Yadav, was shot dead on Monday night while returning home after attending a wedding.

Armed criminals allegedly shot Vicky point blank, leaving him with three bullet injuries - one on his leg and two in the head - before he was rushed to a private hospital in Patliputra. Vicky was then rushed to Patna Medical College and Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

The Buddha Colony police have lodged cases against seven person purportedly involved in the incident. Manoj Mohan, Buddha Colony police station house officer, said: "Based on the complaint made by the victim's family members, the police have lodged an FIR against seven persons."

Mohan added that raids were on to nab those involved in the case.

Police sources said that 23-year-old Vicky had a criminal history and was wanted for more than a dozen cases related to loot, assault, abduction and arms act.

Vicky was allegedly a member of a criminal gang operating out of Mandiri area, but he parted ways with the gang a few months ago.

Police sourcessuspect that some of Vicky's gang members were upset with him and had been waiting for a chance to settle scores. They got the opportunity on Monday night when he went to attend a wedding in Krishna Nagar area.

The incident was preconceived as the assailants must have had prior information about Vicky's movements, police sources added.

A mêlée broke out in Mandiri area - once one of Patna's most sensitive areas - after the incident.

A police officer at Buddha Colony police station said on condition of anonymity: "Around one-and-a-half decades ago, Mandiri area was the most notorious in Patna with various criminal gangs being active."

Residents were allegedly afraid of walking in the area in the evening as loot and snatching were routine affairs. However, thanks to policing many gangs vanished or went underground. Sources said that Vicky's death has sparked fears of gang wars resuming in the area, as Vicky's gang will try to settle scores.

Police sources that most incidents reported in the past three months involved criminal activity in Mandiri area. In the murder of the ATM guard (Kundan Kumar Malakar) at Maurya Lok complex in December, police had arrested one Subham Kumar, a resident of Golghar-Mandiri area.

Similarly, in November, the police had arrested three persons - Bhushan Yadav, Dharmendra Yadav and Jitendra Yadav - for their involvement in the murder of an elderly couple (Vipin Bihari Das and his wife Savita Sharma) in Kidwaipuri area.