Hostage drama: police suspect Pujari man had aides
Police officials investigating the Chembur hostage case in which an alleged Ravi Pujari man was killed on Friday, suspect that the accused had accomplices who escaped.
Police officials investigating the Chembur hostage case in which an alleged Ravi Pujari man was killed on Friday, suspect that the accused had accomplices who escaped.
“We suspect there could have been accomplices of the accused hanging around the spot. We are trying to find witnesses who may have seen them,” said Dilip Sawant, deputy commissioner of police.
Police said four months ago, gangster Anand Dengre (35) Dengre had made an extortion call to builder Vijay Bhatija (41), who also runs an imitation jewellery business, demanding Rs 25 lakh. Bhatija refused to give in to his demand.
On Friday morning, Dengre barged into Bhatiya’s sixth floor flat in Kaveri Society at Chembur by threatening his maid with a chopper. Bhatiya sought time to arrange for the money and called his brother, Laxman, to negotiate with Dengre.
Laxman in turn informed the police before arriving at his brother’s flat along with his wife. However, while the brothers were negotiating with Dengre, he noticed policemen cordoning off the building.
A team of five policemen first tried to convince Dengre to surrender, but when he refused they broke open the door.
Dengre opened fire at the police team, who retaliated and injured him critically. He was taken to Rajawadi Hospital where he was declared dead before admission.
Dengre has at least six cases of extortion and criminal intimidation registered against him at various police stations.