Rift in gang behind deportation

JEALOUS BROTHERS

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: The deportation of 10 people allegedly associated with gangster Chhota Shakeel is the result of a rift between him and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s brothers. These men along with over two dozen Indians were rounded up after the murder of a Syrian national who used to work for a diamond merchant in UAE, police sources said.

The murder took place in the first week of October in the seven-star Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai. The deceased, Rami Andraws Sama’an (32), along with his diamond merchant friend, Elias Al Nadaf (30), had gone to meet a group of people—who claimed to be diamond merchants—at the hotel. The group of five diamond merchants, strangled Sama’an to death. Nadaf, who pretended to be dead was lying in a corner in the room. The suspects; one from Kazakhastan, one from Azerbaijan and three others from Russia, fled after killing Sama’an. The detention of Shakeel’s associates started after this killing.

An accomplice of Dawood Ibrahim’s brothers allegedly informed the UAE police that the murder was done on the instruction of some criminals from India. The caller provided ‘clues’ about the killers. The UAE police rounded up three dozen Indians, 10 of whom were later deported to India.

An officer from the Mumbai police said those deported were close to Shakeel’s brother, Anwar Shaikh. A red corner notice was issued against Anwar who fled the country in the ’90s. Sources said Anwar has formed his own gang. “Dawood’s brother Anees didn’t like this and informed his other brothers. Though this gang did not commit crimes in India, Dawood’s brothers took it as a threat,” said a source.

The sources said the UAE police had also detained Anwar but he was released due to Shakeel’s efforts. “Dawood’s brothers wanted to make Shakeel realise that his support to the newly-formed gang could end up in the arrest of his brother. While Anees and his brothers don’t like Shakeel, Dawood has handed over the reins of his ‘business’ in India to Shakeel. It has resulted in infighting,’’ said a source.

There were reports that Shakeel had bought a bungalow with the help of Sama’an in Dubai and Anees—who was also eyeing this property— did not like. A source said while Dawood’s brothers don’t like Shakeel, the don trusts Shakeel more than anyone else in the gang since Shakeel has been his accomplice for long.

The Times of India, November 25, 2006