M A I N   N E W S

Haryanvis join Chhota Rajan gang
From Raman Mohan

HISAR, Oct 23 — The Mumbai-based Chhota Rajan gang has recruited about 25 youths with criminal background from Haryana to bolster its strength in a bid to counter the rival gang headed by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, it is learnt.

The recruitment from Haryana is part of its nationwide drive to hire new members. According to reliable sources, Haryana figures prominently in the gang’s list of hunting ground for two reasons: The first and the most important is that the two gangs currently controlling underground activities in Delhi are headed by notorious criminals from Haryana. Both these gangs have strong links with the Chhota Rajan gang in Mumbai. These gangs function as virtual branch offices of the Mumbai gang in the national capital.

Secondly, criminals from Haryana have exposure to crime trends in metropolitan cities because the smaller gangs from the state’s district towns function in close collaboration with the Delhi gangs headed by fellow Haryanvis. For these reasons, the sources said, the Chhota Rajan gang entrusted the recruitment from Haryana to its partners in Delhi.

The sources said the gang launched the recruitment drive because it sensed an opportunity to force out associates of the Dawood Ibrahim gang after the “sympathy wave” generated by the recent attack on its chief Chhota Rajan in Bangkok. The gang was successful in portraying its chief as a patriot who earned the wrath of the Karachi-based Dawood Ibrahim after the Mumbai serial bomb blasts. However, in doing so, the gang has acquired a pro-Hindu identity, limiting its choice of new recruits to non-Muslim communities.

The new recruits were selected based on recommendations by the Delhi-based gangs headed by Haryanvis. They were dispatched to Mumbai about two weeks ago for final screening by Chhota Rajan’s confidants. Those selected are now back home for Divali and are expected to report on “duty” in the first week of November, it is learnt.

Interestingly, all recruits are known criminals in their areas of operation in Haryana. All of them are alleged to have committed daring murders or robberies in the past. The Delhi gangs had been providing them logistical support in criminal activities including abduction and extortion.

An immediate fallout of the recruitment from Haryana has been that the recruits have become “role models” for anti-social elements in the smaller towns who now hope to dominate their rivals in their areas with the help of these recruits.

Although the ‘salaries’ of the new recruits are not known, but sources said these were substantial for otherwise, none of them would give up their ‘lucrative businesses’ in Haryana.