Fear of gangsters, even those behind bars, returns to unsettle Gurgaon

The murder of Manish Gujjar, elder brother of jailed gangster Binder Gujjar, is the fourth incident of organised crime in the city in a span of 45 days.

Not only does the incident lend strength to the reappearance of criminal gangs in Gurgaon after decade-long hiatus, it also raises questions about the police’s level of preparedness to prevent such incidents.

The fear of gangsters, including those behind bars suddenly becoming active in Gurgaon, resurfaced with the murder of Sushma Rathi, estranged wife of jailed gangster Ashok Rathi, on September 2.

Ashok got her killed through his three acquaintances for alleged infidelity.

On September 21, another gangster Mahesh ‘Attack’, 34, was shot dead by members of a rival gang led by gangster Kaushal, outside his office in Gurgaon.

Despite arresting the culprit, Vikas, alias Polly, who was named accused in the case, the police, it seems, were mute spectators till Kaushal’s men allegedly killed Manish on Monday night.

Apart from Kaushal, those booked for his murder include Bhram Prakash, Kuldeep Gadoli, sister Sudesh and gangster Kaushal, his brother Manish and aide Amit Daggar.

“It appears to be a result of gang war. But we can only confirm after investigations are over,” said Sumit Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Crime.

Police officials said these gangsters, both known and lesser-known, have suddenly resurfaced, either after coming out on bail or as a fallout of a frantic race for supremacy in the city’s crime world.

This race for power, police said, happened after Sandeep Gadoli, the most wanted gangster, who used to dominate the scene, was killed on February 7 this year. Gadoli was gunned down in Mumbai.

“The involvement of gangsters started on August 10 this year, when the ‘most wanted’ gangster Surjeet Kataria, alias Ballu, was nabbed along with his two accomplices. Before this, gangs were active in 2000s,” said a police official