Abu Salem gang member killed in encounter

MUMBAI, JUNE 2: A gangster belonging to the Abu Salem gang was killed in an encounter with the police in South Mumbai early on Friday morn...

MUMBAI, JUNE 2: A gangster belonging to the Abu Salem gang was killed in an encounter with the police in South Mumbai early on Friday morning.

Acting on a tip-off a special squad, under Deputy Commissioner of Police Jai Jeet Singh, laid a trap for some Abu Salem gang members near the area around Kemps Corner and Peddar Road. The police had information that the sharpshooters were planning to kill a businessman in the area.

Around midnight police sighted two gangsters on a motorcycle and recognised one of them as Mohammed Raza Mohammed Sheikh alias Arif. The duo apeared to be heading towards Babulnath Temple, police said. When intercepted and asked to surrender, one of the gangsters opened fire on Sub-Inspector A Jadhav who was lucky to escape because of his bullet-proof jacket.

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However, Arif was seriously injured in the subsequent exchange of fire and was declared dead before admission to R L Nair Hospital. His unidentified associate managed to escape, police said.

A .22 foreign made pistol and three live rounds were recovered from Arif. According to police, Arif was largely responsible to notorious gangster Abu Salem’s underworld operation in South Mumbai. He received direct instructions from the ganglord and had plans to kill some film personalities, hoteliers and builders.