As many as 57 people were being interrogated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) as it kickstarted a major operation on Wednesday, May 13, to target individuals linked to or associated with Pakistan-based gangster networks, which includes the Shahzad Bhatti gang as well as the Dogra gang.
At around 8 a.m., coordinated ATS raids were carried out at multiple locations across the state, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nalasopara, Mira Road, Akola, Nanded, Nashik, and Jalgaon, IANS quoted officials as saying.
The latest operation is said to be part of a major crackdown aimed at dismantling alleged gangster-linked networks operating within the state, besides identifying individuals suspected of maintaining direct or indirect connections with the gangs.
The Maharashtra ATS is planning to question individuals allegedly connected to these gangsters. Also, it includes those who are in contact with them via social media platform or believed to be followers or sympathisers of the networks, officials said.
Intelligence inputs received over a period of time has indicated that these gangsters have been allegedly using social media platforms to influence and recruit youngsters from Maharashtra into their criminal networks.
These local youths have been targeted with the promises of a luxurious lifestyle and financial gains in an attempt to expand their influence across different parts of the state.
In particular, the ATS operation remains focused on identifying sleeper cells, local operatives, and possible support systems connected to these gangs. An extensive search operation and verification drive is being conducted by multiple ATS teams.
In raids, the officials have seized laptops, mobile phones, pen drives and other electronic gadgets from locations that are said to be linked to the suspects as part of the ongoing investigation.