MUMBAI, APRIL 27: The Democratic Front (DF) government in Maharashtra, which has come under flak for the recent spurt in killings of Shiv Sena activists, today said it was not `shielding' any particular underworld outfit even as the Sena declared that ``it will take appropriate action to save the lives of Shiv Sainiks''.``The DF, after coming to power has not shielded any particular underworld gang and the government has political will to take stringent action against the mafia,'' Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal who also holds Home portfolio, told a news conference here.Bhujbal, who presided over a two-hour-long meeting of Sena-BJP combine Opposition leaders and top police officials at the official guest house Sahyadri, said ``efforts will be made to revamp the police organisation''.However, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Narayan Rane later told newsmen that the government had not prepared any action plan to counter the threats to Shiv Sainiks from the Chota Shakeel outfit of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's gang.Rane said Shakeel had apparently said that he would gun down some 30-odd Sena office-bearers to avenge the killings of same number of his men in police encounters during the previous saffron combine's rule.When asked about future course of action by Sena, Rane said ``we will not sit quiet. However, the further strategy wil be announced by party supremo Bal Thackeray.''Efforts were also on to make available state-of-the-art communication system, modern arms and ammunitions to the police force to counter the gangsters, Bhujbal said.He, however, said the Opposition should stop politicising the killings of Sainiks.Bhujbal was referring to a statement by Thackeray that a godfather of a particular gang was sitting in Mantralaya, the seat of government.BJP also alleged that curtailment in security cover of the Sena chief had bolstered the morale of the gangsters.Bhujbal, who had convened today's meeting, said it had probably satisfied the Opposition leaders. ``We will be meeting again after 15 days,'' he said.The deputy chief minister said gunning down of Sena members had even occurred during the previous Sena-BJP rule.Rane said ``it is wrong to accuse us of politicising the issue. It is only Shiv Sainiks, who are being killed.''He asked ``is it that someone had given a contract to Shakeel and Dawood to kill Sainiks?''Leader of Opposition in the State Council Nitin Gadkari, former deputy chief minister Gopinath Munde and former minister of state for Home Gajanan Kirtikar attended the meeting.The State DGP Subhash Malhotra, city police chief Ronnie Mendonca and Additional Chief Secretary Home V Ranganathan were also present.The gunning down of three Sena activists in past eight days forced the government to convene a meeting of police officials and Opposition leaders.Sena functionaries Shivaji Chavan, Baban Surve and Vikas Patil were gunned down in three separate incidents.Police have arrested five Shakeel gangsters for allegedly killing Surve.
