Rajan aide shot dead

MUMBAI, Aug 16: In yet another fall-out of gangland rivalry, Prakash Gang Naik, a top lieutenant of Chhota Rajan, was gunned down this afte...

MUMBAI, Aug 16: In yet another fall-out of gangland rivalry, Prakash Gang Naik, a top lieutenant of Chhota Rajan, was gunned down this afternoon by two shooters belonging to the Chhota Shakeel faction of the Dubai-based ganglord, Dawood Ibrahim.

Thirty-five-year-old Prakash Naik alias Gotya, a Samajwadi Party activist, was driving his car No MH04 5836 on the Andheri-Jogeshwari Link Road, near Motor Care besides Laxmi Industrial Estate, when the two identified assailants, astride a motorcycle No MH02 7191, intercepted his car and fired six rounds at him at 1.15 pm, police said.

Soon after the incident, members from the city-based Chhota Shakeel gang claimed responsibility for the killing.

The police said that the main shooter fired three of six rounds almost from point blank range injuring Gotya fatally. Even as Gotya slumped on his steering wheel, the duo, after emptying the magazine, made good their escape the police further added.

Gotya8217;s companion, Amit Tiwari, who was also in the car at the time, was injured in the firing. Gotya was rushed to Cooper Hospital by Tiwari, but was declared dead before admission. Tiwari, who is reportedly out of danger, is now recuperating at the hospital.

Gotya had been active in Mumbai for over a decade and a half now. Initially an aide of Dawood Ibrahim, Gotya had switched his allegiance to Chhota Rajan following the split in the rank and files of the Dawood gang. He had also unsuccessfully contested the corporation elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket in February 1996.

Described as one of the pillars of the Nana company in Mumbai since the split, Gotya8217;s death has dealt a serious blow to the city based gang members of Rajan.

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Gotya was very active in the north western suburbs of Mumbai, particularly around Jogeshwari and Meghwadi. The hawks from the rival gang were looking for him for over six months and sensing danger Gotya had gone underground.

According to police records, Gotya was a history-sheeter with 17 criminal cases against him, including three murders. Cases against him had been registered at Worli, Jogeshwari, Vasai and Karjat in Thane district.

With Gotya8217;s killing, the Shakeel gang has so far managed to eliminate their third enemy this year.