statesman news service
MUMBAI, 29 JUNE: Owning up the misfired attempt on gangster Abu Salem’s life, Karachi-based don Chota Shakeel has virtually thrown a challenge to the Mumbai police, saying he is determined to liquidate Salem as he has not only ditched Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, but also joined hands with underworld enemy Chota Rajan who is holed up either in Malaysia or Thailand, police sources said.
Salem evaded two bullets fired by contract killer JD or Devendra Jagtap, but one brushed his arm.
It is now a no holds barred gang-war, apprehend Mumbai Police, sources said.
Yesterday, Shakeel called up a reporter of a mainstream daily on behalf of Dawood to clarify “Salem might have escaped with a bullet injury, but we will not leave him alive for his betrayal of Bhai.” The cops too suspect that Salem ~ who is facing trial in the 12 March 1993 Bombay serial blasts as one of the main conspirators with Dawood and Shakeel ~ may be passing on inside information about Dawood and his men in Karachi as well as Mumbai to Chhota Rajan.
Shakeel has purportedly said he hired professional shooter JD through Vijay Shetty, a Dawood Ibrahim henchman. JD was once was a trusted shooter of Chhota Rajan, but is now a contract killer. Police sources say they are probing a claim that the Karachi mafia had given him Rs 5 lakh supari (contract) to kill Salem, who escaped by a whisker three days ago at Navi Mumbai’s Taloja Prison as soon he was back from the sessions court in Mumbai. Jagtap, his co-inmate, faces various offences.
Investigation so far suggest Shetty met JD at the sessions court and conveyed to him the offer to kill Salem. The revolver used by JD had been in his possession for almost two months.
The attack exposes the callous security at the Taloja Prison.
Maharashtra&’s home minister Mr RR Patil has suspended prison-in-charge Mr Sanjay Sable and four constables for gross negligence and security lapses. Mr Patil has asked additional DGP (prison) Mrs Meeran Borwankar to conduct an exhaustive investigation so that such attacks do not recur.
Salem was earlier attacked with sharp weapons inside Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail following which he was transferred to Taloja, but that has not diminished the threat to his life.
Salem and his erstwhile companion actress Monica Bedi were repatriated by Portugal several years ago following a Red Corner Notice circulated by the Interpol, as he was wanted in the ’93 blasts. The Union government had given an undertaking that even if found guilty, Salem would not be given death sentence. Last year, Portugal tried to get back Salem’s custody saying he was not safe in India. The demand for his return to that country may now be revived. Apparently, his lawyers are working on it.