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Bangkok cops launch hunt for remaining Rajan assailants

The Thai police has launched a hunt to nab the three suspected runaway Pakistanis who had sprayed bullets on gangster Rajendra Nikhalje aka Chhota Rajan in the capital Bangkok.

"We are on the job... Investigations are in progress and we hope for a breakthrough soon," a Thai police officer told UNI on the telephone.

So far the police has arrested three Pakistanis and a Thai national in connection with the attack on Rajan and his associates at the Sukhumvit Soi 26 apartments in Bangkok on September 15.

The Thai officer said those who had been arrested were Muhammed Salim (33), Shar Khar (36), Mohammud Yusuf (45) and Rajif Arunkiat (51). Salim and Khar were arrested from Bangkok's Robinson department store while Yusuf and Rajif, the Thai, were arrested from Sukhumvit Soi 5 and Intamara Soi 3 apartments, respectively.

Those arrested have admitted to having been paid Rs 40 million by 'Shakeelbhai' [Chhota Shakeel], the lieutenant of Bombay blasts accused Dawood Ibrahim, who is based in Karachi.

The widow of Rohit Verma, the Rajan aide who was killed in the shootout, has reportedly identified some of the accused in an identification parade and with sketches.

The Thai police is now on a hot chase for Farid Khan, Marik Iyas and Muhammad Salim (not the suspect who has been arrested). "We are on the lookout for them," the police officer said, ruling out the possibility that they may have fled the country. Yusuf is said to have planned the attack.

But confusion prevails in Bombay over the fate of Rajan, Dawood's arch-rival. In fact there's confusion even on his identity. Rajan had assumed the name Vijay Daman in Bangkok. But the police refused to confirm that Vijay Daman was Rajan.

The Thai officer also refused to comment on his whereabouts. "I can't tell you where he is... he is somewhere," he said. He also refused to comment on whether Rajan, who had sustained bullet injuries, had made any statement to the Thai police or been questioned by the Bombay police.

A team from Bombay, which is in Bangkok, matched the fingerprints of Rajan available with the fingerprints bureau in Bombay with those of Vijay Daman.

Meanwhile, a report from Bangkok said Daman had expressed his desire to return to Bombay. Quoting The Bangkok Post, a report said the Bombay police had sought Rajan's extradition, though there is no treaty between India and Thailand to allow this.

Both the Bombay police and their Thai counterparts refused to comment on these reports.

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