Mumbai, July 03: The youth in the city may be desisting from joining the underworld, but that has not stopped the gangs from hiring shooters from outside Mumbai.
This came to light after the crime branch stumbled upon seven hirelings from Uttar Pradesh, who were involved in the murder of Chhota Rajan’s key associate Farid Tanasha.
Locals hesitate
The exodus of shooters to Mumbai show that gang activities have surged here. The locals do not want to join because they fear getting killed in encounters.
More than 600 gangsters have been killed on the streets of Mumbai between 1996-2001.
Senior Inspector Shirpad Kale said that all the hirelings had carried out a reconnaissance of Tanasha’s residence at Tilak Nagar before the killing.
According to Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Dayal, Bharat Nepali wanted to make his presence felt by killing Tanasha. He hired shooters from outside Mumbai, fearing he could be killed in retaliation.
Accused remanded
The nine accused are Zafar Khan 30, Mohd Saqib Aalam Khan 23, Pankaj Singh 30, Raviprakah Singh alias Twinkle 27, Randhir Ashok Singh 25, Mohd Rafi Shaikh alias Shankar 27, Duttatray Bhakre 45, Ravindra Varerkar 44, and Vishwanath Shetty 47.
They have been remanded in police custody till July 15.
-Agencies