Gangster's men shoot at staffer of timber trader

MUMBAI: An Andheri businessman has been living in fear for a month since he received calls from fugitive gangster Ejaz Lakdawala, threatening him with dire consequences if he failed to pay him. This week the gangster almost carried out the threat, but for a faulty weapon: his henchmen tried to shoot the trader's employee but the revolver got stuck.
After the businessman, N A Chunawala, reported the incident to the police, the officials are worried that an organized extortion racket is back in the western suburbs.A special team has been formed in the west region to track the gangs' activities. The D N Nagar police, who have registered a case of attempt to murder against Lakdawala and two of his men, have also prepared the sketch of the accused. Chunawala has been provided with police protection.
After month-long threats from Lakdawala, on Tuesday, two men on a motorcycle arrived at Chunawala's timber mart on S V Road at Andheri (W). One waited on the bike, while his companion went inside. He allegedly tried to shoot at one of the employees at the mart, but the revolver got stuck, the police said. The accused then hit the employee with the butt of the revolver before escaping, leaving the weapons behind, the police added. The victim later told the police that he was taken by surprise by the henchman who threatened him with Lakdawala's name.
"We found a bullet stick inside the weapon. This indicates that the accused wanted to harm the person," a source said.
The threats apparently did not stop there. The next day, Lakdawala again called Chunawala and demanded for "good luck" (money), the police said. The source added that Lakdawala seemed to be aware of the victim and his family background.
The suburb had witnesses several incidents last year where the fugitive gangster had targeted many developer and business. The police had arrested many accused in the those cases. Additional commissioner of police (west region) Vishwas Nagre-Patil had recently formed a special squad to keep track on the gang activities and their men in the suburb.