How come the underworld network in the city still continues?There is a network but it has shrunk. While some gangs are locally managed by small fry, the top gangsters have run away. The middle-level order is almost finished. And a few significant ones like Subash Singh Thakur, O.P. Singh and Shyam Kishore Garigapatti are behind bars. Fixers and money handlers (those who don’t wield guns but look after the network) are decimated or out on bail. The number of foot soldiers who are left is also dwindling.Who were the active gangsters?Abu Salem, with his brand of hirelings from Uttar Pradesh, was the biggest trouble-maker in Bollywood. Ajit Dewani was one of his targets. But there is a definite lull in the gang’s activities after Salem’s arrest.In 2000, Chhota Shakeel was at his peak, having issued blatant threats to some political leaders. He was looking after Dawood Ibrahim’s interest in Bollywood. Shakeel commanded a gun-wielding mob and made intimidating calls to his targets. Dawood’s brother Anees concentrated on counterfeit and smuggling. Shakeel has gone into a shell after the police went hammer and tongs at him.Chhota Rajan’s gang disintegrated after the attempt on his life at Bangkok in 2000. Hemant Pujari, Ravi Pujari, Ejaz Lakdawala and Guru Satam broke away to form their own gangs.What was the strategy used to break the underworld?It was multi-pronged. Encounters and legislation such as Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (MPDA) and others such as the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) had a combined effect.Do you depend more on technology and less on informers? Yes, the police is now largely dependent on technology for intelligence gathering, relying less on informers. Gangs have been increasingly using the telephone, they set up their own telephone exchanges, use satellite phones and e-mail. We have to be prepared for the hi-fi use of technology by criminals.How does the police manage to do that?We have some great officers — dare devils or top grade officers. And they have the courage to take risks. This was not seen prior to 1993.Post-1993 blasts, did your modus operandi change?The blasts brought to light the role of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). It was no longer a local, but a much more sinister design from across the border. The police were given a free hand. New squads were set up. Men were trained and armed with new weapons. Secret funds were made available for operations. All this was not possible without government support.Did the split in the gangs help?No. In fact, this led to more bloodletting. Chhota Rajan tried to project himself as a patriot. He is still a problem, running an extortion racket in the city.How do you sum up the scenario?The situation is under control. But as long as people like Abu Salem, Chhota Shakeel and Chhota Rajan are not brought to the country, they will continue to pose a problem. They will always find fresh recruits.
