An untimely death?

MUMBAI, August 13: Could Gulshan Kumar's macabre murder have been avoided? After all, the city police were alerted about the death threat t...

MUMBAI, August 13: Could Gulshan Kumar8217;s macabre murder have been avoided? After all, the city police were alerted about the death threat to several film personalities, including Gulshan Kumar, conceded a senior police officer.

Also, an injured hitman in Gupt director Rajiv Rai8217;s aborted murder attempt, gave away a few names of industry people who have been on Abu Salem8217;s hit-list. According to a senior police officer, the top brass in the department were informed about the death threat to Gulshan Kumar since May this year. Kumar did not ask for protection, since he already had a bodyguard, nor did the police take any cognisance of the threat, and no effort was made to provide security. Police commissioner Subhash Malhotra pointed out that there was no need for police security as no one from the industry lodged any complaint with the police.

The latest tip-off about a threat to a film personality was received by the police last week. The police failed to activate their intelligence network to ascertain the identity of the threatened individual.

The first ever trap known as fielding8217;, in the underworld parlance for killing Gulshan Kumar was laid between July 15 and 20, while he was shooting for his forthcoming untitled film at the Jasdanwala Bungalow at Aqsa Beach, Malad. Two teams from the gang maintained a watch on the movements of the filmmaker, but failed to strike either because of the milling crowds around him, or for the fact that he was shielded by his north Indian bodyguard.

It has now come to light that one of the hit squads included Ajay Pawar, who was later killed in a police encounter at Charni Road on August 3. He had recently joined the Abu Salem gang after the death of his brother Sanjay Pawar, who was also killed in an encounter in October last year at Kanjurmarg. Ajay Pawar had gained proximity with Abu Salem and was in the know of the future targets of his boss. If only the police had got him alive, Gulshan Kumar8217;s death might have been avoided. However, when the joint commissioner of police, law and order, Charan Singh Azad was contacted, he denied that the police were aware of any threats to Gulshan Kumar.

It is now confirmed that Gulshan Kumar did not pay any money to Abu Salem, though Rs 10 crore was being demanded of him since March this year. Apart from Kumar8217;s 250-crore annual turnover from Tips Cassettes and Music Industries, his religiosity and lavish expenditure for devotional purposes including a langar8217; at Vaishnodevi temple, where Rs 5 lakh was spent every month, was an eye sore for Abu Salem.