Mohan Chand Sharma, inspector of the Delhi [Images] Police Special Cell who was critically injured during an encounter with Delhi blasts-linked terrorists, died in a hospital on Friday evening.

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

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 terrorists wanted in connection with the Delhi and Ahmedabad [Images] blasts, underwent an operation to remove the bullets from his body.

The profusely-bleeding officer was taken to the hospital.