Informers threaten to ‘strike work’

Alleging that the seven accused arrested by the JJ Marg police were being given “VIP treatment” in jail,the informers all addressing a news conference with faces masked and requesting that their identities not be revealed — and Khan’s family members demanded that the investigation should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

As television crews gathered,cries of “hamein insaaf chahiye” (we want justice) rang out at the packed Tandoor Chawl.

“Irfan was not merely a police informer. He was a patriot serving his country. With him gone,not only will the police suffer but so will several families who were dependant on him. Today he is dead and tomorrow we may also die. But the Mumbai police will not bat an eyelid to save us or investigate our deaths,” said one informer. “Hence,starting today,the Mumbai Police can expect complete silence from our side on any crime. Now,if we see any crime happening,be it chain-snatching or a murder,we will turn and walk away. Until all of Chindi’s murderers are tracked and punished,this backbone of the Mumbai police stands effectively broken.”

Claiming that it is the informer network,called Khabris in Mumbai lingo,that has helped the Mumbai Police attain the respect it has,the men said the force has lost one of its most resourceful informants. “Their main informer is gone and with its head gone,the informer community is beginning to get threats.”

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Deven Bharti responded to the news conference by saying those who speak to the media are unlikely to be genuine informers. “We ensure that our informers are safe and secure. I am of the opinion that anyone who comes in front of the camera can’t be an informer,” Bharti said. He said investigation into Khan’s murder has revealed a property dispute behind the crime. “The people who came and spoke to the press today are not informers,” he reiterated. “At least,not with the Crime Branch.”

According to them,Chindi’s tipoffs helped the Mumbai police uncover crucial clues in the 1993 blasts case. His informers collected information after the 26/11 attack also. “Just last month,we handed over to the Kolkata Police a pimp who would force young girls into prostitution. He was our leader,not an autocratic one but a compassionate one. Everyday he would sponsor the expenses of his boys like they were his own sons,” one of them said.

Chindi was known to be one of Vijay Salaskar’s trusted informers and had a network of around 400-500 young men who would source information that was eventually provided to agencies like the ATS and the Crime Branch. The informers allege that the underworld is behind the killing of Chindi.