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CID probe ordered into grenade attack on policemen

The Maharashtra government has ordered an inquiry by the crime investigation department into Tuesday's hand-grenade attack near a hotel in Dahisar, a western suburb of Bombay. Some gangsters, when challenged, hurled the grenade at the police posse. In the blast and the subsequent police firing, two policemen and three gangsters were killed and several others were injured.

A top police official said the crime branch and the city police have launched a massive combing operation and are raiding the hideouts of criminals to filter the absconding accused involved in the incident, who are believed to be members of the fugitive Chhota Rajan gang.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi has described the incident as "serious". Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, who also holds the home portfolio, and Minister of State for Home Gajanan Kirtikar, called on the families of the cops killed in the encounter and announced a compensation of Rs 200,000 each to their families.

One of the accused who was injured in the incident, Janardan Pasi, succumbed to his injuries in hospital on Wednesday.

Two gangsters, Asaf Lafiq Sheikh and Arif Sheikh, were killed on the spot. The injured policemen who are undergoing treatment at various hospitals are Hemant Patil, Anil Pawar, Tanu Kanase, Atmaram Govilkar, Gindiba Jangpalle and Pradeep Gajanan Kadvilkar.

Meanwhile, Bombay Police Commissioner R H Mendonca has instructed police officers to speed up the investigation process and has alerted all the police stations to keep a watch. Police stations in Thane and adjoining New Bombay areas have also been alerted, police sources said.

UNI

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