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'We had not planned to kill him so easily'

When news that Chhota Rajan had been shot in Bangkok came in, the police immediately suspected Chhota Shakeel, the sword arm of Karachi-based fugitive Dawood Ibrahim.

In a telephonic interview with Sheela Bhatt, Shakeel owned up the attack on the 'traitor', but said they had actually planned to capture him and take him to Dubai.

Who attacked Chhota Rajan? Police say you are responsible.

Yes, we planned the operation. But I was not alone. The entire D Gang is behind this. 'Kutta bhonkte bhonkte mar gaya.

What was your association with him? Can you give me some background?

He was 42 years old. His father was a sweeper in a company. He had no money to even eat. At that time he came to us begging for some work. So we hired him as the gatekeeper in our office.

When his mentor Bada Rajan [Rajan Nair] died [in 1983], we gave him shelter and money. He was nobody before joining us. According to our sources, the coward jumped from the first floor of his house and broke his back. He was taken to hospital where he was operated upon immediately.

Now that you are confirming your involvement, can you tell us how you planned the whole operation?

Where should I begin? We had our men in four or five countries -- Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, India, Dubai, everywhere. We were trying our best to get the correct information about him. He was giving lots of interviews to the Indian press. The Indian media made a hero out of him.

Harami mobile phone le ke ghoomta tha, jis mei Malaysia ka number tha. But that was a roving number and he was in Bangkok.

Where was he living in Bangkok?

He was living in Sukumit area, 26th street. His house had a big iron gate. The bastard did not come out of his house for three full months. My guys were waiting outside for him.

Jab woh bahar nahi aaya, to hame andar jaana pada. We had to force open the gate and tie up his watchman. Six of our men had gone from Bombay with more than 10 weapons for the operation. And don't ask me the name, but our own boat was anchored in Thailand.

Our idea was to capture him alive and bring him to Dubai. But he jumped out of his window and tried to escape, so we had to shoot him. We had not planned to kill him so easily. My only regret, however, is that our khabri (informer) Rohit Verma also died in the attack. [Verma was an accused in the murder of Nepalese MP Dilshad Beg.]

But what was your quarrel with him? Why were you so upset with him?

Hamari chaukat pe ye aadmi pala tha aur ab hamare saamne bhonkta tha. Namak haram tha. He ran away from Dubai with crores of rupees worth of gold belonging to us. He was willing to do anything for money. You should know more. Don't you read the newspapers in Bombay? Don't you know how many murders are against his name in Bombay?

EXTERNAL LINKS:
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