Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, injured in Delhi encounter, died in a Delhi hospital on Friday.

Forty-one-year-old Sharma, a highly decorated officer who received three bullet injuries in his abdomen, thigh and right arm in the gunbattle at Jamia Nagar in South Delhi, succumbed to his injuries at the Holy Family hospital at 7 pm, doctors attending him said.

A recipient of seven gallantry medals, Sharma, who had led the police team against the militants wanted in connection with Delhi and Ahmedabad blasts, underwent an operation to remove the bullets from his body.

"We have lost our best man," Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Karnal Singh told PTI.

Inspector Sharma led Friday's encounter in South Delhi's Jamia Nagar area where two terrorists were killed and another was arrested.

Earlier, Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal said that Inpector Sharma was one of the bravest officers in the the force.

Intelligence sources have said that Atif, one of the militants killed today, masterminded Delhi blasts. Atif was the brain behind serial blasts in Ahmedabad, Japiur. (With PTI inputs)