Mumbai City, known as the ‘Golden Bird’, was once upon a time under the terror of gangsters and localgoons. Realizing the influx of terror in the city, Mumbai Police swung into action and formed an encounter team to nail such inhuman gangs.
Let us get to know the five encounter specialists of the Mumbai Police.
Daya Nayak
Encounters: 83, including that of Chhota Rajan’s gang members. A disproportionate assets case was filed against Nayak in January 2003. He was investigated by the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court for links with the underworld, but was given a clean chit after several inquiries in 2004. He was arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau in 2006. A non-bailable warrant was issued against him for amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. After his arrest and interrogation, the list of properties that Nayak allegedly owned came to light. It included, among others, a swank penthouse in Yug Dharma Apartments in Mumbai’s Malad. He was suspended. The Supreme Court quashed all the charges against him under the MCOCA in 2010 and he was reinstated in 2012 as the Additional Commissioner of Police(West) Control Room. Nana Patekar and Rana Daggubati portrayed him in the movies – Ab Tak Chhappan and Department, respectively.
Pradeep Sharma
Encounters: More than 100, including that of top crime bosses and three LeT suspects.
Sharma’s name had cropped up in the 2003 custodial death of bomb blast accused, Khawaja Yunus. Sharma was accused of a nexus with underworld don, Dawood Ibrahim, for allegedly grabbing land in Malad. He was also implicated in the November 2006 alleged fake encounter of former gangster, RamNarain Gupta alias Lakhan Bhaiyya, a suspected aide of gangster Chhota Rajan. In January 2010, Sharma was arrested along with 21 others for their involvement in the encounter of Lakhan Bhaiyya. A Mumbai Court acquitted Sharma of all the charges in the case in July 2013. Sanjay Dutt played Sharma in Ram Gopal Varma’s film – Department.
Vijay Salaskar
Encounters: 75–80 criminals, including key members of the Arun Gawli gang.
Salaskar was killed in action during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was 50. He was honoured with the Ashok Chakra in 2009. Prior to his death, Salaskar was head of the Anti-Extortion Cell of Mumbai Police.
After the encounter in 2004, when Salaskar killed two of Gawli’s aides, allegations had surfaced that the killings were fake. In 2008, it was reported that Salaskar had unearthed the connections between the gutkha industry and top businessmen, following which, the rifle issued to him was withdrawn.
Sachin Waze
Encounters: 63, including key members of Chotta Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim’s gangs. Waze joined Maharashtra Police in 1990 and resigned in November 2007. Media reports suggest that Waze also had special skills in tackling cyber crimes. He was reportedly into modern gadgets and gizmos.
The custodial death case of software engineer, Khwaja Yunus, was filed against him in December 2002. It was reported that Waze allegedly punched Yunus in the stomach and poured a bucket of cold water on him, which led to his death.
Ravindranath Angre
Encounters: 52, including that of famous underworld don, SureshMachekar, and members of gangster Amar Naik’s gang. In 2008, Thane based builder, Ganesh Wagh filed a complaint of threat, extortion and robbery against Angre. He was arrested and suspended. He spent months in prison and was released in May 2009. In 2010, Angre was again arrested on charges of attempt to murder Wagh’s brother, Mahesh. The cop was granted conditional bail after spending 49 days in jail. Angre was acquitted by a Session’s Court in 2011 for lack of circumstantial evidence or eyewitness. He was later reinstated into the Force and transferred to Gadchiroli. Angre refused to accept his transfer, following which he was dismissed from service in June 2014.
