24 May,2009 03:34 PM IST | | PTI
With the arrest of seven alleged members of Chota Shakeel gang, Mumbai police have launched a crackdown on this underworld outfit to strike its network in India and South East Asia.
"Top members of Shakeel gang are in our custody. This will not only help us to know Shakeel's network in India and abroad but also to curb his activities," Joint Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria said.
The first breakthrough came early this month following the arrest of five members of Shakeel gang who were allegedly on a mission to eliminate a lawyer. They were idenfitied as Abdul Wahab Mohammed Hassan Faqeer, Mohammed Salaam Yakub Ali Hakeem, Ramesh Warkari, Salaam Mohammed Yousuf Kazi and Fazal-ur Rehman Khan.
Later, Anil Mhatre, a shooter of this gang, was killed in a police encounter in south Mumbai. Two sharp shooters and close aides of Shakeel, Gurpreet Singh and Rashid Malbari - top rung members of the gang - are also in police custody.
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While Bhullar was extradited from Bangkok on May 14, Rashid was brought from Karnataka on a transit remand on May 18. The duo was arrested on their arrival in the city.
To a question on series of arrests only of Shakeel gang members, Maria said, "We are acting upon the information received from our reliable sources. It is not like we targeted only one gang and left other one."
Police officials see the arrests of all the accused as an achievement since they all are dreaded criminals and are wanted in various cases including those of murder, attempt to murder and extortion.
The arrest of Bhullar and Malbari assumes significance as they were in direct contact with Shakeel. Police believe that 31-year-old-Bhullar, who managed gang's network in Bangkok, would give them overall picture of Shakeel's operations in abroad.
"There are some unanswered questions about Shakeel's gang operations. Bhullar's arrest will certainly help us to know about Shakeel's operations abroad. He knew from where weapons and money come from. One of the daring gang members, Bhullar was assigned only big missions," Maria said.
"Bhullar, was involved in an attempt to murder underworld don Chhota Rajan at a Bangkok restaurant in September 2000. We are confident of extracting details pertaining to network in Malaysia, Bangkok and other South East Asian countries," a police officer said.
Besides Bhullar, it was Malbari, who was part of the team that shot at Rajan. Malbari was also involved in an attempt to murder notorious extortionist Ejaz Lakdawala in Bangkok in May 2003.
