The Hindu : Politicians' 'cover' for gangsters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 03, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Politicians' 'cover' for gangsters

By K.V. Subramanya

BANGALORE Oct. 2. Rajanish alias Rajani and Vijaykumar alias Kavala, the two notorious gangsters who were in the news recently, are said to have close connections with two prominent politicians from the City.

Rajani, who was shot at and arrested by the Chickpet Police Inspector, B.B. Ashok Kumar, recently, is the brother of the jailed gangster, Praveen alias Malayali Praveen, an associate of the underworld don, Muthappa Rai.

Praveen's gang has been kidnapping and extorting money from rich youths in the City. They had been mainly targeting people from Kerala who are working here. Children of rich people from Kerala studying in professional colleges in Bangalore have also been targeted by Praveen's gang.

It is alleged that Praveen, Rajani, and their associates have the blessings of an MLA from the City. Two Malayalis, who were abducted by Praveen's associates sometime ago, had lodged a police complaint against the gangsters.

According to sources, the complainants were allegedly summoned by the MLA and asked to withdraw the complaints. The MLA allegedly told them: "We Malayalis shall settle the matter among ourselves and there is no need for us to approach the police," the sources in the City police told The Hindu.

They said that they had some information about the gangster's connections with the MLA but were unable to probe this aspect deeply for certain reasons.

The investigation into crimes committed by Rajani has suffered a setback as the officers probing the cases have been deputed to the Special Task Force (STF) that is involved in operations against the forest brigand, Veerappan.

Similarly, Kavala, who is absconding, is also said to be enjoying political patronage. He is alleged to have close rapport with a minister in the S.M.Krishna Cabinet.

Kavala was a trusted associate of the dreaded gangsters, Basava and Soma, who were killed in an encounter with police in Indiranagar a few years ago.

Sources said that Kavala had worked for the minister during the last Assembly elections. He was in-charge of the minister's election office in a particular area in the City, the sources said. However, of late, the minister is said to have severed his links with the gangster.

Recently, Kavala and Rajani had allegedly kidnapped and extorted money from rich youths frequenting live band joints in the City. Kavala's gang had also abducted five live-band singers and held them captive for five days at a resort on the outskirts of the City. The gangsters had asked the proprietor of the live band joint, where these singers were employed, to pay a hefty amount for their release.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Politicians' 'cover' for gangsters

Residents demand better roads

METRx, a godsend for people with back pain

Breach of norms: BMP blames BDA