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Govt to seek Thai help in taming Mumbai dons: The Indian Express
New Delhi, May 20: After managing to secure Dubai`s cooperation in the fight against the Mumbai underworld, New Delhi is tying up with Thailand to trap operatives working out of, or transiting through, Bangkok.
New Delhi, May 20: After managing to secure Dubai’s cooperation in the fight against the Mumbai underworld, New Delhi is tying up with Thailand to trap operatives working out of, or transiting through, Bangkok.
Home Ministry sources say India will pass on a list of 14 most wanted criminals to Thailand at the first meeting of Joint Working Group on Security to begin in Bangkok tomorrow. The list apparently includes the names of Dawood Ibrahim’s chief lieutenant Chhota Shakeel and his arch- Chhota Rajan.
The JWG, to be headed by General Winai Pratiyakul, head of Thailand’s National Security Agency, and a Secretary in the MEA, will focus on extradition, mutual legal assistance on criminal matters, drive against anti-narcotics and intelligence sharing on mutual security issues. The JWG, which may lead to both sides sharing intelligence on criminals and terrorists, was given the political go-ahead during Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani’s talks with Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on January 31.
It is understood that New Delhi wants cooperation from Thailand to trap Chotta Shakeel on the grounds that he was behind the attack on Chhota Rajan and his close associates in Thailand in September 2000. Based in Karachi, Shakeel is implicated in more than 30 cases of extortion, smuggling, film financing, counterfeit currency and narcotics. As head of Dawood’s operations in the sub-continent, Shakeel — against whom Interpol has issued a red-corner notice — moves around in Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia and Thailand.
Shakeel, sources say, allegedly deposited extortion money with the Bank of Ayudhya in Thailand. His female accomplice, identified as Mansura, was also involved in trying to secure the release of one Kalia from Thailand.
Chhota Rajan, who broke away from the Dawood gang after the 1993 Bombay blasts, has more than 20 cases against him. Having survived the assassination attempt by D-company in 2000, he operates from South-East Asia including Thailand.
One other prominent case on which New Delhi is seeking cooperation from Bangkok is the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
Besides exchanging information on mafia, the JWG on security will also discuss counter-terrorism and report progress on the bilateral extradition treaty.
The Thai government conveyed its willingness to Advani to sign the extradition treaty with India but before inking the agreement it wants to pilot the updated extradition law in the country’s Parliament.
The JWG, to be headed by General Winai Pratiyakul, head of Thailand’s National Security Agency, and a Secretary in the MEA, will focus on extradition, mutual legal assistance on criminal matters, drive against anti-narcotics and intelligence sharing on mutual security issues. The JWG, which may lead to both sides sharing intelligence on criminals and terrorists, was given the political go-ahead during Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani’s talks with Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on January 31.
It is understood that New Delhi wants cooperation from Thailand to trap Chotta Shakeel on the grounds that he was behind the attack on Chhota Rajan and his close associates in Thailand in September 2000. Based in Karachi, Shakeel is implicated in more than 30 cases of extortion, smuggling, film financing, counterfeit currency and narcotics. As head of Dawood’s operations in the sub-continent, Shakeel — against whom Interpol has issued a red-corner notice — moves around in Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia and Thailand.
Shakeel, sources say, allegedly deposited extortion money with the Bank of Ayudhya in Thailand. His female accomplice, identified as Mansura, was also involved in trying to secure the release of one Kalia from Thailand.
Chhota Rajan, who broke away from the Dawood gang after the 1993 Bombay blasts, has more than 20 cases against him. Having survived the assassination attempt by D-company in 2000, he operates from South-East Asia including Thailand.
One other prominent case on which New Delhi is seeking cooperation from Bangkok is the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
Besides exchanging information on mafia, the JWG on security will also discuss counter-terrorism and report progress on the bilateral extradition treaty.
The Thai government conveyed its willingness to Advani to sign the extradition treaty with India but before inking the agreement it wants to pilot the updated extradition law in the country’s Parliament.