Mumbai on high alert as cops turn focus back to D-Gang members

It all started with the arrest of Shaikh

Mumbai has been put on high alert, with law-enforcement agencies renewing their focus on former Dawood gang members, after the Delhi police busted a terror module with IB inputs. Sources said the Crime Branch has so far examined 400-500 people with D-Gang links as authorities suspect some terror outfits are trying to launch strikes with the help of the underworld, just like the ISI used Dawood Ibrahim to carry out the 1993 blasts. Terrorist organisations are believed to have paid a huge amount to the underworld operating from Pakistan to carry out attacks in India.

Following the arrest of Dharavi resident Jaan Mohammed Shaikh who was on the radar of the Crime Branch radar as well the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the Crime Branch suspects that the underworld is activating its partially dead network, particularly those who had been associated with the Dawood gang 15-20 years back. Sources said the surveillance by the agencies on these people is a little less when it comes to terror activities.

"The threat has been taken very seriously and all the units of the Crime Branch have been fully activated to go behind every person having links with the underworld on record or those who are suspected but not having any records," said a Crime Branch officer.

Jan Mohammed Shaikh alias Sameer Kaliya's house at Social Nagar in Dharavi. Pic/Shadab Khan

"So far, 400-500 people having records of underworld links have been examined and some who are suspected to be having underworld connections are also being examined," said the officer. One such key man, Fazl-ur-Rehman, alias Mujju, was not available at his home. The cops have taken his details from his family. The activation of those who were lying low for so many years has surprised the Crime Branch officers as they believe that before carrying out any attacks, terror outfits use similar tactics to check the reaction of agencies.

Before the 7/11 blast of 2006, the sources said, terror outfit SIMI used a similar modus operandi a month before by planting a bomb at Byculla railway station which was defused by the cops. "After the 7/11 blasts, the Mumbai Crime Branch learnt that Lashkar-e-Taiba with the ground support of SIMI planted the bomb to check how agencies were going to react and what were their plans. A month after that, 7/11 took place," said an officer who was a part of the probe into the terrorist attack.

This time, sources said, the plan seems to be in line with the 1993 attack. The Delhi Special Cell has said that Dawood Ibrahim's brother Anees Ibrahim was coordinating the entire conspiracy. While it didn't reveal if the underworld was planning on behalf of some terror organisation, Crime Branch sources said they know the in and out of the gang. They believe a terrorist organisation has drafted the D-company for the job.

Jaan Mohammed Shaikh (top, left) was arrested from Kota by the Delhi police, while the others were picked up from different locations

The sources said the threats are believed to be specific and all the units of the Crime Branch and police are tracking the whereabouts and activities of people with underworld links. The ATS has also fully activated its entire network for the job. It has arrested two persons - Zakir Husain Shaikh who has a criminal past and links the D-gang and one Rizwan Momin, who appears to be a fresh recruit.

Former key D-Gang men examined

Fazl-ur-Rehman, alias Mujju Arrested multiple times, the latest being in November 2020 by the Anti Extortion Cell. He had told the cops that Jaan Mohammad Shaikh was again taking orders from the underworld, prompting the police to up surveillance on Shaikh's home. Crime branch visited Rehman's home but didn't find him. It has taken his details.

Asif Dadhi Was arrested by Pune police in 2009 for allegedly having links with SIMI and underworld.

Tinku Pandey Suspected aide of D-Gang member Salim Chiplun, who is in Pakistan. Chiplun has taken the place of Fahim Machmach after his death

Imran Hanif Kalia, alias Hanif Kalia A ex-Dawood gang member who is back on radar

Anwar Iqbal Mohammad Yusuf Kashmiri Was questioned at his home

The cops have also shared details of some suspects with other states as they live outside Maharashtra.

Two
No. of people arrested by ATS in past week