Manpower Crisis Makes Gangland Resort To Outsourcing For Killing And Extortion
Mateen Hafeez | TNN
Anew phenomenon has emerged in Mumbai’s underworld. Gangs have started outsourcing their operations for killings and extortions, because finding new recruits is becoming increasingly difficult. Such gangs include those run by Chhota Rajan, Kumar Pillai, Ravi Pujari and Prasad Pujari.
The phenomenon came to light early this month when the state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) arrested eight gangsters. The men, ATS officers said, on being given contracts by the big gangs, killed people in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, and also in other places in Maharashtra.
“They would accept jobs from fugitive gangsters to kill rivals for Rs 3-4 lakh per killing. They worked very systematically. We hope to get more information soon,” said ATS chief Rakesh Maria. “Till their arrest, they had not been given any work by the Dawood Ibrahim-Chhota Shakeel gang. So far, five cases involving them have been detected.”
The men were organized into a gang in Arthur Road and Thane jails by former Chhota Rajan gang member Vijay Vasant Kedari (37), who was among those arrested. “Upon being released on bail, they would execute jobs on behalf of Kedari,” said ATS officer Dinesh Kadam, who was part of the team that busted the gang; the team included officers Sukhlal Varpe, Sachin Kada and Rajendra Utekar. “We also arrested Kedari’s elder brother Nitin.”
Kedari was convicted for the April 2, 2001 murder of Vinayak Bakalkar in Ratnagiri. He escaped during a threeweek parole from Thane jail in April 2009 and started running Arthur Road and Thane jail operations from Navi Mumbai.
Kedari recruited his men based on work experience. The prerequisites were: jail time, knowledge of escaping the police, knowledge of the city and a wide range of underworld contacts. An ATS officer said the gang members were not given a salary. “Kedari would give them money as per their requirement. He footed their bills for family functions (like weddings), medical expenses, buying flats and home repairs.”
Those arrested include: Vinode Shette; Sunil Shette, alias Sudhir, wanted in the red sandalwood smuggling case; Rakesh Shette; Rajesh Pardesi, alias Barkya, involved in four murders, one attempt to murder case and several extortion cases; Navin Pujari, cousin of elusive gangster Prasad Pujari; Kishore Angre, alias Anu, involved in 11 cases, including one of murder, two of attempt to murder, and three of kidnapping minor girls.
“Gangsters based abroad would outsource jobs to Kedari. The latter’s men would do a reconnaissance of their target, contact shooters, and arrange bikes and weapons. The target would be bumped off once payment was made,” said Kadam. “Once the target was shot down, the Kedari gang’s job would be over.”
Kedari is also active in N a s h i k , since the ATS recently arre s t e d eight other members of his gang there in connection with the murder of a sevenyear-old boy.
From the Mumbai gang, the ATS seized 315 handguns, three 7.65 mm pistols, a revolver, 45 live cartridges, a magazine, a Santro and a Honda City, and 14 mobile phones.
RATE CARD
3-4 lakh | Carrying out a killing. Charge includes requirements for complete execution of task, including reconnaissance, manpower and weapons
50,000 to 1 lakh | Providing a shooter and a motorcycle rider at a gang’s disposal. Charge proportional to manpower requirement
50,000 | Providing a pistol. Bullets come ‘free’
WORKING ON CONTRACT
On March 7, the ATS arrested eight members of a gang, including their leader Vijay Kedari—a former aide of Chhota Rajan—who carried out tasks for money for other gangs. Five criminal cases against this gang have come to light:
Oct 6, 2007: Driver of gangster Lalsingh Chavan shot down. Murder carried out on instructions of fugitive gangster Kumar Pillai, whose father was murdered by Chavan two decades ago
Oct 6, 2007: Ulhasnagar builder Anu Manwani fired at. Seriously injured, but survives
Mar 30, 2010: Wadala slumlord Bandya Sawant shot down. Murder on instructions of another slumlord
Dec 29, 2010: Kedari’s mother, Ramal, arrested for hiding weapons in Antop Hill home. According to police, the two 7.65 mm pistols had been used by the Kedari gang in crimes
Jan 6, 2011: Gangster Deepak Patil shot down on Kalva bridge. Aide survives. Patil had been arrested in 2007 for the murder of Shiv Sena corporator Devidas Chougule
KEDARI’S CV
Vijay Vasant Kedari is a former aide of gangster Chhota Rajan
Has clout in the underworld
Was arrested for murder on Arpil 2, 2001. Sent to Ratnagri jail, followed by Arthur Road and Nasik
In jail, he formed a gang comprising characters with good underworld experience
Didn’t give salary to his gang members, but bore all their expenditures, including those for marriage, health and buying home
Would accept contracts from gangsters based abroad. His men would most of the time not be aware of the foreign-based gangster outsourcing the killing
The Times of India, April 18, 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment