In a world ruled by men and marked by secrecy, one woman broke all boundaries — Japan’s rare female Yakuza.
Her journey through the country’s criminal underworld defies convention and reveals the dark, complex hierarchy of Japan’s most feared crime syndicate.
From loyalty and betrayal to survival and power, this story unravels the hidden face of organized crime and the extraordinary life of a woman who dared to rise within it.


A Japanese Woman Yakuza Who Made Her Way Through The Underworld

In a shocking development emerging out of Indian cricket, batter and 2025 Asia Cup winner Rinku Singh has received a threat call from the underworld, the Mumbai Branch Police confirmed. Per the investigation, the D-Company, led by terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, sent three ransom demands to Rinku’s promotional team between February and April this year, asking for INR 5 crore. Meanwhile, the police have made advancements in this case, arresting two suspects, Mohammed Dilshad and Mohammed Naveed, from the Caribbean and handing them over to the Indian authorities on August 1.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that D Company had demanded a ransom of ₹5 crore from Indian cricketer Rinku Singh, sending him three threatening messages between February and April 2025. Interpol had earlier helped arrest the accused Mohammad Dilshad and Mohammad Naveed… <a href="https://t.co/kO3NJbKLDx">pic.twitter.com/kO3NJbKLDx</a>&mdash; IANS (@ians_india) <a href="https://twitter.com/ians_india/status/1975991114281763297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Those arrested were also on record demanding INR 10 crore ransom from Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of the late former MLA Baba Siddiqui. However, a TV9 report has claimed that during the interrogation, one of them even admitted to calling Rinku demanding ransom. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Rinku’s rise to fame has put him in the mainstream media, under everyone’s watch, including who’s who from the underworld. Born and raised in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rinku had humble beginnings before becoming an IPL star. Following his five-sixes feat in the last over during an IPL 2023 game against the Gujarat Titans, Rinku made his India debut in 2024, also featuring in the recently concluded Asia Cup campaign.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-2025-glenn-maxwell-hopes-to-return-for-india-t20is-despite-wrist-surgery-1759984120691">IND vs AUS 2025: Glenn Maxwell hopes to return for India T20Is despite wrist surgery</a> &nbsp;Against Pakistan in the marquee Asia Cup final, Rinku, playing his first game of the tournament, hit the winning runs and helped India clinch the crown for the record ninth time.&nbsp; &nbsp;Representing India in the shortest format, Rinku has played 54 T20I matches, scoring 550 runs at a staggering strike-rate of 161.77 and averaging 42.31. In the Indian Premier League, Rinku has played 58 games for three-time winners, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), scoring 1099 runs. He was also part of KKR’s 2024 IPL-winning side. &nbsp;Besides, he recently got engaged to Member of Parliament (MP) Priya Saroj. He will be seen next in action during India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, including five T20Is.

Per the investigation, the D-Company, led by terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, sent three ransom demands to Rinku’s promotional team between February and April this year, asking for INR 5 crore.

In a shocking development emerging out of Indian cricket, batter and 2025 Asia Cup winner Rinku Singh has received a threat call from the underworld, the Mumbai Branch Police confirmed. Per the investigation, the D-Company, led by terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, sent three ransom demands to Rinku’s promotional team between February and April this year, asking for INR 5 crore. Meanwhile, the police have made advancements in this case, arresting two suspects, Mohammed Dilshad and Mohammed Naveed, from the Caribbean and handing them over to the Indian authorities on August 1.

Per the latest report, Dawood Ibrahim-led D-Company sent three ransom demands to Rinku’s promotional team between February and April this year, asking for INR 5 crore.

Asia Cup winner Rinku Singh receives threat from underworld: Mumbai Crime Branch

Archaeologists found an ancient cave in Israel that allegedly serves as a portal to the underworld.

In a recent excavation, the archaeologists in western Jerusalem found more than 100 ceramic lamps squeezed into the cave's crevices. They theorised in a new paper that these were most likely used to conjure up dead spirits and their secrets —a practice known as necromancy.

Called the Te'omim Cave, it dates back to 4000 BCE and the fourth century AD, and has been the subject of various research for the past 150 years.

Eitan Klein, from the Israel Antiquities Authority at Ashkelon Academic College and Boaz Zissu from Bar-Ilan University, wrote in the ‘Harvard Theological Review’: "The Te'omim Cave in the Jerusalem hills has all the cultic and physical elements necessary to serve as a possible portal to the underworld.

It is believed that spring water flows through the underground system which allegedly had healing properties.

<h2>Secret passageways&nbsp;</h2>

It was only in the 1970s that the researchers unearthed a series of previously-undiscovered secret passageways leading to hidden chambers within the cave.

Their study states that the many long and narrow crevices found in these concealed areas used to house embedded archaeological artefacts such as coins, pottery, metal weapons, and, importantly, lamps and skulls.

Though not many human remains were on display, the researchers found a skull with four late Roman-era lamps tucked deep into a crevice that was particularly hard to reach.

According to researchers, this skull was used as a sorcery weapon to ward off evil spirits.

<h2>Ancient writings discovered</h2>

The researchers also found writings on the cave wall which suggest that it was around the time of the Roman and Greek eras. By studying those writing, the researchers inferred that the way the flames within the lamps flickered it was considered a way of communicating with demons and spirits from beyond the grave, Daily Star reports.

The writings also indicate that necromancy was commonly practised by witches in tombs or underground shrines, and skulls were a key feature, the study argues.

“Most of the objects discovered in hard-to-reach crevices in the Te'omim Cave, including the oil lamps, the ceramic and glass bowls and vessels, the axe head, and the daggers, were used in one way or another for sorcery and magic in caves perceived as possible portals to the underworld. Their purpose was to predict the future and conjure up the spirits of the dead,” the study noted.

"Because more than 100 ceramic oil lamps but only three human skulls have been found so far in the Te'omim Cave, we hypothesize that the primary cultic ceremony focused on depositing oil lamps for chthonic forces, perhaps as part of rituals conducted in the cave to raise the dead and predict the future," it said.

The excavation has been going since 2009 as part of a collaboration of the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University and the Cave Research Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Archaeologists found an ancient cave in Israel that allegedly serves as a portal to the underworld. In a recent excavation, the archaeologists in western Jerusalem found more than 100 ceramic lamps squeezed into the cave's crevices.

Archaeologists found an ancient cave in Israel that allegedly serves as a portal to the underworld. In a recent excavation, the archaeologists in western Jerusalem found more than 100 ceramic lamps squeezed into the cave's crevices. They theorised in a new paper that these were most likely used to conjure up dead spirits and their secrets —a practice known as necromancy. Called the Te'omim Cave, it dates back to 4000 BCE and the fourth century AD, and has been the subject of various research for the past 150 years. Eitan Klein, from the Israel Antiquities Authority at Ashkelon Academic College and Boaz Zissu from Bar-Ilan University, wrote in the ‘Harvard Theological Review’: "The Te'omim Cave in the Jerusalem hills has all the cultic and physical elements necessary to serve as a possible portal to the underworld. It is believed that spring water flows through the underground system which allegedly had healing properties. Secret passageways It was only in the 1970s that the researchers unearthed a series of previously-undiscovered secret passageways leading to hidden chambers within the cave. Their study states that the many long and narrow crevices found in these concealed areas used to house embedded archaeological artefacts such as coins, pottery, metal weapons, and, importantly, lamps and skulls. Though not many human remains were on display, the researchers found a skull with four late Roman-era lamps tucked deep into a crevice that was particularly hard to reach. According to researchers, this skull was used as a sorcery weapon to ward off evil spirits. Ancient writings discovered The researchers also found writings on the cave wall which suggest that it was around the time of the Roman and Greek eras. By studying those writing, the researchers inferred that the way the flames within the lamps flickered it was considered a way of communicating with demons and spirits from beyond the grave, Daily Star reports. The writings also indicate that necromancy was commonly practised by witches in tombs or underground shrines, and skulls were a key feature, the study argues. “Most of the objects discovered in hard-to-reach crevices in the Te'omim Cave, including the oil lamps, the ceramic and glass bowls and vessels, the axe head, and the daggers, were used in one way or another for sorcery and magic in caves perceived as possible portals to the underworld. Their purpose was to predict the future and conjure up the spirits of the dead,” the study noted. "Because more than 100 ceramic oil lamps but only three human skulls have been found so far in the Te'omim Cave, we hypothesize that the primary cultic ceremony focused on depositing oil lamps for chthonic forces, perhaps as part of rituals conducted in the cave to raise the dead and predict the future," it said. The excavation has been going since 2009 as part of a collaboration of the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University and the Cave Research Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Archaeologists find ancient cave in Israel that serves as ‘portal to underworld’

Using state-of-the-art modern equipment and technology, archaeologists in Southern Mexico have unearthed an intricate structure of chambers and passageways, hidden beneath an ancient church, representing an 'entrance' to the underworld.&nbsp;

The labyrinth was discovered at the Mitla site, an important archaeological site related to the Zapotec culture, located in the state of Oaxaca.&nbsp;Zapotecs inhabited the region for over 2,200 years until the arrival of the Spanish in 1521.&nbsp;

The discovery was made possible by a joint venture between the Mexican National Institute of History and Anthropology (INAH), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Association for Archaeological Research and Exploration and the ARX&nbsp;Project.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-officials-discover-centuries-old-tunnel-at-a-childrens-museum-in-delhi-601941">Also read |&nbsp;India: Officials discover centuries-old tunnel at a children's museum in Delhi</a>

To locate the underground structures precisely, the researchers used electrical resistivity tomography,&nbsp;ground-penetrating radar and&nbsp;seismic noise tomography as the three main scanning methods.&nbsp;

After obtaining the data and combing it, the team managed to produce a comprehensive map of what lay 5-8 metres (16-26 feet) below the church's surface. The Catholic building was built after missionaries arrived in the area and conceals the entrance to the now-mapped forbidden underground network.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Notably, the Zapotecs were firm believers in the underworld. They were polytheistic and believed in ritual, including when someone died.&nbsp;

<h2>Evidence of the hidden temple</h2>

According to experts, when the Zapotecs placed the buildings underneath, they would have been used as a religious temple, known as the Lyobaa - the 'place of rest'. The ruin was believed to be a portal to the realm of the deceased. It is&nbsp;suspected that the entrance to the underground passages may be located beneath the church’s main altar, which forced the church representatives to close it, in order to keep the 'satan' away.&nbsp;

The missionaries who built the church over it documented that they had indeed sealed the entrance to the&nbsp;Lyobaa.&nbsp;

“In 1674, Dominican father Francisco de Burgoa described the exploration of the Mitla ruins and their subterranean chambers by a group of Spanish missionaries. Burgoa’s account describes an expansive subterranean temple consisting of interconnected chambers, housing the tombs of high priests and kings of Teozapotlán,"&nbsp;the ARX&nbsp;Project noted in a statement.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/egypt-huge-tunnel-discovered-beneath-temple-can-lead-to-cleopatras-lost-tomb-533223">Watch |&nbsp;Egypt: Huge tunnel discovered beneath temple, can lead to Cleopatra's lost tomb</a>

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The archaeologists say they have barely scratched the surface regarding the discoveries. The team of&nbsp;15 multidisciplinary researchers working&nbsp;under Project Lyobaa&nbsp;has&nbsp;additional scans and studies in the area planned for the years ahead.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Using state-of-the-art modern equipment and technology, archaeologists in Southern Mexico have unearthed an intricate structure of chambers and passageways, hidden beneath an ancient church, representing an 'entrance' to the underworld.

Using state-of-the-art modern equipment and technology, archaeologists in Southern Mexico have unearthed an intricate structure of chambers and passageways, hidden beneath an ancient church, representing an 'entrance' to the underworld. The labyrinth was discovered at the Mitla site, an important archaeological site related to the Zapotec culture, located in the state of Oaxaca. Zapotecs inhabited the region for over 2,200 years until the arrival of the Spanish in 1521. The discovery was made possible by a joint venture between the Mexican National Institute of History and Anthropology (INAH), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Association for Archaeological Research and Exploration and the ARX Project. Also read | India: Officials discover centuries-old tunnel at a children's museum in Delhi To locate the underground structures precisely, the researchers used electrical resistivity tomography, ground-penetrating radar and seismic noise tomography as the three main scanning methods. After obtaining the data and combing it, the team managed to produce a comprehensive map of what lay 5-8 metres (16-26 feet) below the church's surface. The Catholic building was built after missionaries arrived in the area and conceals the entrance to the now-mapped forbidden underground network. Notably, the Zapotecs were firm believers in the underworld. They were polytheistic and believed in ritual, including when someone died. Evidence of the hidden temple According to experts, when the Zapotecs placed the buildings underneath, they would have been used as a religious temple, known as the Lyobaa - the 'place of rest'. The ruin was believed to be a portal to the realm of the deceased. It is suspected that the entrance to the underground passages may be located beneath the church’s main altar, which forced the church representatives to close it, in order to keep the 'satan' away. The missionaries who built the church over it documented that they had indeed sealed the entrance to the Lyobaa. “In 1674, Dominican father Francisco de Burgoa described the exploration of the Mitla ruins and their subterranean chambers by a group of Spanish missionaries. Burgoa’s account describes an expansive subterranean temple consisting of interconnected chambers, housing the tombs of high priests and kings of Teozapotlán," the ARX Project noted in a statement. Watch | Egypt: Huge tunnel discovered beneath temple, can lead to Cleopatra's lost tomb × The archaeologists say they have barely scratched the surface regarding the discoveries. The team of 15 multidisciplinary researchers working under Project Lyobaa has additional scans and studies in the area planned for the years ahead. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Entrance to underworld? Mysterious tunnels, chambers found beneath ancient church in Mexico

Chhota Rajan, the gangster of Mumbai underworld, has died of COVID-19, according to reports.

An official confirmation is yet to be made.

Rajan died in New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the reports said.

He was admitted to AIIMS on April 26.

Born Rajendra Nikalje, he&nbsp;was arrested from Indonesia in 2015 and was lodged in Delhi's high security Tihar Jail since then.

He is an accused in some 70 criminal cases including extortion and murder in the western state of Maharashtra.

A special court was created for trial on pending cases in Delhi after they were tranferred to Central Bureau of Investigation.

In 2018, Rajan was sentenced to life in prison in the 2011 murder case of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey.

Chhota Rajan, the gangster of Mumbai underworld, has died of COVID-19, according to reports. An official confirmation is yet to be made. Rajan died in New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the reports said.

Chhota Rajan, the gangster of Mumbai underworld, has died of COVID-19, according to reports. An official confirmation is yet to be made. Rajan died in New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the reports said. He was admitted to AIIMS on April 26. Born Rajendra Nikalje, he was arrested from Indonesia in 2015 and was lodged in Delhi's high security Tihar Jail since then. He is an accused in some 70 criminal cases including extortion and murder in the western state of Maharashtra. A special court was created for trial on pending cases in Delhi after they were tranferred to Central Bureau of Investigation. In 2018, Rajan was sentenced to life in prison in the 2011 murder case of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey.

Mumbai gangster Chhota Rajan dies of COVID-19 in Delhi: Reports

The government of Commonwealth of Dominica has said that underworld don and India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is and has never been a citizen of the island country.

"Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is not, nor has he ever been, a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica, neither through the Citizenship by Investment Programme nor any other means. As such, any publication by any media or by any person purporting otherwise is strictly false," said the Dominican government in a statement.

"It has long been the responsibility of the Citizenship by Investment Unit to safeguard the integrity of the Citizenship by Investment Programme through the use of sophisticated due diligence and vetting procedures. The Citizenship by Investment Unit applies a multi-tiered system of due diligence, involving both internal and external checks by reputable, top-tier, international due diligence firms based in the United States and the United Kingdom," it said.

The statement added, "These external firms perform thorough checks, including on-the-ground research, to produce exhaustive due diligence reports. In this way, Dominica maintains a firm commitment to professional ethics and ensuring the safety of Dominican citizens."

Dawood Ibrahim is wanted in India to face the law of the land for carrying out serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993, in which scores of people were killed and injured. India has asked Pakistan several times to hand over Dawood Ibrahim.

Pakistan has been denying that it has sheltered Dawood Ibrahim. However, a Pakistan government document recently revealed Dawood Ibrahim's location that was related to a list of 88 terrorists sanctioned by Islamabad. His address on the document is White House, Karachi.

The development comes ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meet in October, which will review whether Pakistan would be blacklisted if steps are not taken in curbing terror financing on its soil. The country has been repeatedly asked to take action against terror funding and is been on the FATF grey list since June 2018.

The government of Commonwealth of Dominica has said that underworld don and India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is and has never been a citizen of the island country.

The government of Commonwealth of Dominica has said that underworld don and India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim is and has never been a citizen of the island country. "Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is not, nor has he ever been, a citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica, neither through the Citizenship by Investment Programme nor any other means. As such, any publication by any media or by any person purporting otherwise is strictly false," said the Dominican government in a statement. "It has long been the responsibility of the Citizenship by Investment Unit to safeguard the integrity of the Citizenship by Investment Programme through the use of sophisticated due diligence and vetting procedures. The Citizenship by Investment Unit applies a multi-tiered system of due diligence, involving both internal and external checks by reputable, top-tier, international due diligence firms based in the United States and the United Kingdom," it said. The statement added, "These external firms perform thorough checks, including on-the-ground research, to produce exhaustive due diligence reports. In this way, Dominica maintains a firm commitment to professional ethics and ensuring the safety of Dominican citizens." Dawood Ibrahim is wanted in India to face the law of the land for carrying out serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993, in which scores of people were killed and injured. India has asked Pakistan several times to hand over Dawood Ibrahim. Pakistan has been denying that it has sheltered Dawood Ibrahim. However, a Pakistan government document recently revealed Dawood Ibrahim's location that was related to a list of 88 terrorists sanctioned by Islamabad. His address on the document is White House, Karachi. The development comes ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meet in October, which will review whether Pakistan would be blacklisted if steps are not taken in curbing terror financing on its soil. The country has been repeatedly asked to take action against terror funding and is been on the FATF grey list since June 2018.

Dawood Ibrahim not our citizen, says Dominican government

By&nbsp;Somendra Sharma

India&#39;s financial capital Mumbai, known for Bollywood, is as much known for the underworld. By the mid-nineties, Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan emerged as the two main characters in the underworld or organised crime syndicate of Mumbai.

The city had witnessed the tales of their friendship, rivalry and the blood that they spilled on the streets. However, the underworld, which once gave sleepless nights to the police, businessmen and builders, appears to be gradually dying.

In 2016, the Mumbai Police registered five cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), of which only two were related to the underworld. DNA takes a look at what led to the fall of Mumbai&#39;s underworld.

In 2016, 41 persons were arrested by the Mumbai Police in MCOCA-related cases, of which four had&nbsp;allegiance with Dawood Ibrahim&#39;s gang, also known as D-Gang or D-Company, according Mumbai Police statistics. The statistics also show that the Hemant Pujari, Arun Gawli, Pandav Putra and Kumar Pillai gangs have been lying dormant for the past three years.

With only two underworld-related cases registered in 2016, one would wonder what has led to this drastic decline in underworld activities? Is it because of the police crackdown or has the underworld changed its style of functioning? Or is there a shift in interest?

The police say one of the main reasons is the&nbsp;shortage of shooters. &quot;Earlier, gangs used to handpick shooters from Uttar Pradesh. The Ravi Pujari gang used to handpick shooters from Dombivli, Konkan, Mangalore, and Azamgarh in UP. The shooters used to carry out audacious attacks for Rs 5,000-10,000. What has always hurt shooters the most is that while the gang leader used to extort crores from the victims, the shooters would only get a few thousands,&quot; said a Mumbai Crime Branch officer.

He said that, last month, the city crime branch sleuths arrested two men &ndash; Anksuh Indulkar and Sagar Chavan &ndash; who were supposed to bump off an Oshiwara-based builder-cum-businessman at the behest of gangster Ejaz Lakdawala. While Lakdawala reportedly demanded an extortion money of Rs 2 crore from the builder, the shooters were promised Rs 5,000, the officer said. Both Indulkar and Chavan were involved in petty crimes earlier and their desperation for money made them accept the offer, the police said.

Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Crime Branch, KMM Prasanna, says: &quot;MCOCA is a draconian Act. Now, if a person involved in underworld fires upon someone, the shooter could be jailed for at least 20 years and minimum 10 years, if the victim survives.&quot;

Prasanna attributed the diminishing underworld activities to the sustained and continuous police crackdown. &quot;In the past three years, we have arrested at least 50 persons associated with the Ravi Pujari gang. In August 2014, the Pujari gang attempted to fire at film producer Karim Morani, but the bullets hit a parked car. The same gang tried to target filmmakers Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt, but the gang members were caught before they could execute their plans. As many as 11 members of the gang were arrested and this was a major setback to Ravi Pujari,&quot; he said.

The crime branch had arrested 87 persons in the past three years, associated with various underworld gangs. &quot;Some of the big blows which the police dealt to the underworld include busting a Chhota Shakeel gang that was supposed to target Chhota Rajan&#39;s Ganesh Mandal at Tilak Nagar. In February last year, we arrested fugitive gangster Guru Satam&#39;s son Bhushan. Gangsters like Chhota Rajan, Kumar Pillai and Santosh Shetty are already behind bars. Getting Rajan back was a big catch. Apart from this, we are now concentrating on arrested old-timers and trusted lieutenants of gangs. We recently arrested one Danny from Uttaranchal. He was one the most trusted men of Rajan and his name had cropped up during the probe into the Kala Ghoda shootout in 2006,&quot; said Prasanna.

Asked why the D-gang is not into extortion the way they used to be in the 90s, a senior police officer said: &quot;The D-gang has diversified investments and is getting into other businesses. Dawood runs his organisation like a full-fledged company. Other gangs cannot be compared to it. Others are still into the business of extortion, simply because, at the end of the day, they want money by show of muscle power.&quot;

A Crime Branch officer, who has been instrumental in busting several modules of the Ravi Pujari gang, says that the informant network of police plays a pivotal role in tackling underworld. &quot;For the past many decades, we have been heavily relying on informants to gather intelligence on underworld operatives. It is very important for us to protect our informants, as in many cases in the past, we have seen that once the informant gets exposed, he has to pay the price with his life,&quot; said the officer.

&quot;Informant network does helps us, but now even constables are bringing information. Men in field units are pumping in information, while the Anti-Extortion Cell works on the information and prevents underworld operations,&quot; says Prasanna.

Being cheated by their own men is another reason. &quot;A gang exists till the time there is a leader and followers. There cannot be a leader without followers. A leader&#39;s work is to mobilise workers, and if the leader himself is outside, there will be no fear among the foot soldiers. We have come across several instances wherein a lot of people have taken money for carrying out works, but have not executed them. The gangs have been facing these bad debts helplessly,&quot; said Prasanna.

With Rajan and Pillai already in the net, expectations are very high that Dawood and Shakeel would also be brought to book. &quot;Efforts are on,&quot; said Prasanna.

(This report first appeared in DNA)

&nbsp;

Once upon a time, it gave police, businessmen & builders sleepless nights but it now appears to be gradually dying

By Somendra Sharma India's financial capital Mumbai, known for Bollywood, is as much known for the underworld. By the mid-nineties, Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan emerged as the two main characters in the underworld or organised crime syndicate of Mumbai. The city had witnessed the tales of their friendship, rivalry and the blood that they spilled on the streets. However, the underworld, which once gave sleepless nights to the police, businessmen and builders, appears to be gradually dying. In 2016, the Mumbai Police registered five cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), of which only two were related to the underworld. DNA takes a look at what led to the fall of Mumbai's underworld. In 2016, 41 persons were arrested by the Mumbai Police in MCOCA-related cases, of which four had allegiance with Dawood Ibrahim's gang, also known as D-Gang or D-Company, according Mumbai Police statistics. The statistics also show that the Hemant Pujari, Arun Gawli, Pandav Putra and Kumar Pillai gangs have been lying dormant for the past three years. With only two underworld-related cases registered in 2016, one would wonder what has led to this drastic decline in underworld activities? Is it because of the police crackdown or has the underworld changed its style of functioning? Or is there a shift in interest? The police say one of the main reasons is the shortage of shooters. "Earlier, gangs used to handpick shooters from Uttar Pradesh. The Ravi Pujari gang used to handpick shooters from Dombivli, Konkan, Mangalore, and Azamgarh in UP. The shooters used to carry out audacious attacks for Rs 5,000-10,000. What has always hurt shooters the most is that while the gang leader used to extort crores from the victims, the shooters would only get a few thousands," said a Mumbai Crime Branch officer. He said that, last month, the city crime branch sleuths arrested two men – Anksuh Indulkar and Sagar Chavan – who were supposed to bump off an Oshiwara-based builder-cum-businessman at the behest of gangster Ejaz Lakdawala. While Lakdawala reportedly demanded an extortion money of Rs 2 crore from the builder, the shooters were promised Rs 5,000, the officer said. Both Indulkar and Chavan were involved in petty crimes earlier and their desperation for money made them accept the offer, the police said. Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Crime Branch, KMM Prasanna, says: "MCOCA is a draconian Act. Now, if a person involved in underworld fires upon someone, the shooter could be jailed for at least 20 years and minimum 10 years, if the victim survives." Prasanna attributed the diminishing underworld activities to the sustained and continuous police crackdown. "In the past three years, we have arrested at least 50 persons associated with the Ravi Pujari gang. In August 2014, the Pujari gang attempted to fire at film producer Karim Morani, but the bullets hit a parked car. The same gang tried to target filmmakers Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt, but the gang members were caught before they could execute their plans. As many as 11 members of the gang were arrested and this was a major setback to Ravi Pujari," he said. The crime branch had arrested 87 persons in the past three years, associated with various underworld gangs. "Some of the big blows which the police dealt to the underworld include busting a Chhota Shakeel gang that was supposed to target Chhota Rajan's Ganesh Mandal at Tilak Nagar. In February last year, we arrested fugitive gangster Guru Satam's son Bhushan. Gangsters like Chhota Rajan, Kumar Pillai and Santosh Shetty are already behind bars. Getting Rajan back was a big catch. Apart from this, we are now concentrating on arrested old-timers and trusted lieutenants of gangs. We recently arrested one Danny from Uttaranchal. He was one the most trusted men of Rajan and his name had cropped up during the probe into the Kala Ghoda shootout in 2006," said Prasanna. Asked why the D-gang is not into extortion the way they used to be in the 90s, a senior police officer said: "The D-gang has diversified investments and is getting into other businesses. Dawood runs his organisation like a full-fledged company. Other gangs cannot be compared to it. Others are still into the business of extortion, simply because, at the end of the day, they want money by show of muscle power." A Crime Branch officer, who has been instrumental in busting several modules of the Ravi Pujari gang, says that the informant network of police plays a pivotal role in tackling underworld. "For the past many decades, we have been heavily relying on informants to gather intelligence on underworld operatives. It is very important for us to protect our informants, as in many cases in the past, we have seen that once the informant gets exposed, he has to pay the price with his life," said the officer. "Informant network does helps us, but now even constables are bringing information. Men in field units are pumping in information, while the Anti-Extortion Cell works on the information and prevents underworld operations," says Prasanna. Being cheated by their own men is another reason. "A gang exists till the time there is a leader and followers. There cannot be a leader without followers. A leader's work is to mobilise workers, and if the leader himself is outside, there will be no fear among the foot soldiers. We have come across several instances wherein a lot of people have taken money for carrying out works, but have not executed them. The gangs have been facing these bad debts helplessly," said Prasanna. With Rajan and Pillai already in the net, expectations are very high that Dawood and Shakeel would also be brought to book. "Efforts are on," said Prasanna. (This report first appeared in DNA)

The rise & fall of India's underworld

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