Pujari gang man arrested with firearms

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The police are leaving no stone unturned in their effort to ensure that no gang war erupts in the city after underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar’s body guard was shot dead last week. In their drive to preempt rival gangs’ “revenge” blood bath, the crime branch on Sunday arrested a 22-year-old man, allegedly associated with fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari, and seized one weapon and 7 bullets.

The police have picked up Vijay Kalyani from Santa Cruz, and seized one 9 mm pistol, two magazines and seven rounds from him. During his interrogation, Kalyani revealed that some more weapons were hidden in the home of Pujari gang member Neil Misquitta, who is already in the prison. “When we raided Misquita’s house, we found a 7.65 mm revolver, a .38 mm revolver, a .32 mm revolver and 200 bullets. The guns were dumped in a water cooler,” said crime branch head Himanshu Roy. “We are examining the role of Misquita’s wife and mother.”

The firearms are country made but of high quality. “The make is more sophisticated than weapons made in factories. Their designs were similar to imported weapons but they cost less than foreign-made guns,” said the police.

The police are on their toes to ensure that no skirmishes break out among members of different gangs in the city. “After Kaskar’s body guard, Arif Bael, was killed on Pakmodia Street last week, members of the D-gang must be searching for the conspirators. As two Chhotas (Chhota Shakeel of Dawood gang and rival Chhota Rajan) could be preparing for a revenge war, officials are trying to prevent such a clash that may aggravate into full-blown wars. So, raids are on and weapons are being seized from various parts of the city,” said the police.

Senior officials are also concerned about the development. “We are trying to eliminate the gangs, baying for each other’s blood. Kalyani He was in direct touch with his mentor, Pujari. He would identify a target, supply a shooter with a gun and collect the weapon from him the next day. Later, he would keep the gun in his home,” said Roy.


The Times of India, May 24, 2011