Police officers investigating the attack on Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff have secured key leads and identified suspects involved in the shooting, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday, even as deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde declared that the government would adopt what he described as a "bullet for bullet" policy to eliminate underworld networks that target high-profile figures or civilians.
Fadnavis said investigators have identified the accused, got key leads and would reach the masterminds as well. “These perpetrators are operating from outside Maharashtra, or even from outside the country,” he said, expressing confidence that the state police would crack the case, as they have done in the past.
“We are not scared of any gang. These accused hide somewhere and use the latest communication methods and threaten people. Mumbai police will find the accused,’’ Fadnavis told reporters in a statement at the chief minister’s office.
The chief minister added that Tiger Shroff had security cover, but the personnel were not with him at the time of the attack.
Tiger Shroff escaped unhurt after three men on a motorcycle opened fire at his car in Juhu on Sunday evening. Shroff’s driver and an autorickshaw driver received gunshot injuries and were both stable.
Sunday’s attack occurred around 7pm near Pushpa Park in Juhu, close to the Jamnabai Narsee School, when Shroff was returning after playing football at a club. Shortly after the incident, two alleged operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu, claimed responsibility for the attack via posts on various social media platforms.
{{/usCountry}}Sunday’s attack occurred around 7pm near Pushpa Park in Juhu, close to the Jamnabai Narsee School, when Shroff was returning after playing football at a club. Shortly after the incident, two alleged operatives of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu, claimed responsibility for the attack via posts on various social media platforms.
{{/usCountry}}Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde declared that the authorities would retaliate aggressively against organised crime syndicates.
“Police will go to the root cause of this and stop such attempts. Bullet for bullet policy is the answer. "Gang war reached its peak in Mumbai during the 1990s and was crushed at its roots. We will not tolerate such activities in Mumbai,” he said.
Asked if this implied the police would eliminate the accused in an “encounter”, Shinde said that the police will do what is needed to maintain law and order.
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora said that the attack involving Tiger Shroff was deeply disturbing.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut attacked the state government, underlining the brazen manner in which gunmen carried out the attack in a busy area.
“There is jungle raj in Mumbai and the state. Law and order has collapsed. Mumbai faced extortion, firing, kidnapping and gangwar in 1990s and same days are coming now. Tiger Shroff was fired upon in a crowded place,” Raut said, adding that it was time for the state to have a full-time home minister.
Chief minister Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, was using the police only to fix his opponents, he alleged.