After bloodshed,gangs lie low

A crime branch official,on the condition of anonymity,said,“These gangsters used to extort money from various industries in Paud and Pirangut areas and had spread their tentacles in the city through a set of people who got employed in Cable TV networks. The builders from the city were victims to extortion by these gangs and were hand-in-glove with some politicians.”

A series of murders started after Sudhir Rasal,a key member of the Marne gang,was murdered in a gang war. As an act of revenge,Sandeep Mohol of Baba Bodke gang was murdered in October 2006 in broad daylight near Kothrud police station. A court had convicted Ganesh Marne and nine accomplices to three years of rigorous imprisonment. Another member of the Bodke gang,Shekhar Bhame,was murdered by Marne gang members for conspiring in Rasal’s murder.

After Mohol’s murder,some gangsters of the Marne gang set up their own gangs resulting in a split with a member,Nilesh Ghaiwal,leading the faction. Kishor Jadhav,police inspector with the crime branch,said,“Ghaiwal was trying to establish himself in Paud Road and Kothrud and had to face opposition from the Marne gang. Another Marne gang member Kishor Marne was murdered near Nilayam talkies in 2009. Sanjay alias Pintya Marne was murdered in 2010. After that there has been a lull.

Crime Profile: ‘Nothing specific’

Extortion gangs off the crime radar,Paud Road area has a crime profile like any other police station in the city. Kothrud police say accidents along the “always-under-construction” road form the major chunk of cases. Chandrakant Ghodke,senior police inspector Kothrud PS,says,”The number of vehicles grew manifold along with industries. Though fatal accidents are few,minor mishaps are frequent.” Burglaries and thefts are sporadic. Asked about economic offences,Ghodke said,”The number is not very different from other police stations.”