Is NIA trying to rope in local police informers?

The recently formed NIA is apparently on a new mission in the city. The agency has been allegedly pressuring informers, mainly of the Mumbai police crime branch and the ATS, to work for the NIA and no one else, according to sources in the Mumbai police, reports Stavan Desai.

The recently formed National Investigation Agency (NIA) is apparently on a new mission in the city. The agency has been allegedly pressuring informers, mainly of the Mumbai police crime branch and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), to work for the NIA and no one else, according to sources in the Mumbai police.

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Since the last week, the officers of the NIA’s Mumbai unit has allegedly been calling key police informers to room number 401 of the IPS officers’ mess at Worli and making this demand.

“Please speak to superintendent of police Rajmohan about this," said a NIA officer, who refused to be named. Rajmohan could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Umar Mansuri (58), who was a prime witness in the MCOCA case against film producer Bharat Shah, is one of those who got a summons.

Mansuri was called to the IPS officer's mess on Sunday morning and was detained till late evening. Mansuri refused to speak to Hindustan Times saying he feared he would be framed if he spoke to the media.

“He has been summoned for an inquiry,” said Police Inspector Satish Mahikar of the Mumbai police, who is on deputation with the NIA. "Please do not ask me anything more."

Though Mansuri was allowed to go home on Sunday night, he has been directed to present himself on Monday morning.

Another officer of the ATS, also on deputation with the NIA, confirmed that Mansuri had been summoned and that it was also because they wanted information about another informer, who was recently attacked by Dawood gang members at Dadar.

Earlier this week, two other police informers were summoned by the NIA who were allowed to go only after they named other informers working for the crime branch and the ATS, claimed Mumbai Police sources.