Mumbai gangsters get tech-savvy

MUMBAI: It is not only tech-savvy netizens who prefer to stay connected through modern cheap online communication applications, but trigger-happy shooters also seem to make the best use of it, if it can help them avoid police surveillance.
The two accused caught by the crime branch for a recent botched-up shooting bid at a sessions court have confessed that they used Skype to discuss their assignments with gangster Santosh Shetty who stays abroad.It was Shetty who told the shooters to activate Skype, an online communication application, on their mobiles and laptops, the police said. Reason: The gangster apparently felt it would be difficult for the police to keep an eye on their online activities, as the cops usually monitored their phones and the calls, officials said.
Last month, the crime branch arrested three armed accused, Ramakant Kulkarni, Karan Bagal and Sunny Navle, outside the sessions court where they gathered to reportedly kill an unidentified target. Two gang members, Sardar Suleman Khan and Sunil Verma, managed to flee, but a few days later, the police nabbed them.
Khan told the police that after the first three accused were nabbed, Khan communicated with Shetty four times over Skype and the gangster instructed him to go underground. A school dropout, Khan reportedly learnt the technology while working for Shetty's gang. Shetty would tell Khan and his associates to use video or voice call facilities "to discuss the killing assignments", the police said.
To counter these criminals, even the police have to keep themselves up-to-date with modern technology. "We have learnt to use advanced technology to counter the gangs' online activities," an official said. Additional commissioner of police (crime) Deven Bharti confirmed the use of Skype by gangsters but he declined to discuss it. "We don't disclose our technical capabilities," said Bharti.
Its not the first time when the police learnt that the shooters discussing operational details with foreign-based gangsters online. Earlier, an accused arrested in advocate Shahid Azmi murder case too confessed to have "chatted with gangster Vijay Shetty over internet". Terrorists too use community websites to communicate with the members of the sleeper cell considering that its difficult for the security agencies to keep tab on the contents of the online chatting.