Ahmedabad: Attack on builder was planned in jail

AHMEDABAD: Two men belonging to the notorious Shiva Mahalingam gang were arrested on Wednesday by the crime branch for plotting to fire at a builder, police said. According to police, Mahalingam - currently lodged in the Ahmedabad central jail - had directed these henchmen to scare the Juhapura builder by firing at him "below the waist" to extort money. But before the men could launch their attack, police said they arrested them and another person based on a tip-off.
The crime branch has arrested Sikander Langha, Mustufa alias Samir, and Sharifkhan Pathan of Bhistiwad in Jamalpur. Pathan was Mahalingam's middleman, police said. Mahalingam is involved in several crimes, including murder, kidnapping, and dacoity. The three arrested are involved in offences such as rioting and attempt to murder.
"The worrying aspect for the cops is that Mahalingam had been directing his men from the jail," said a senior crime branch official.
Joint commissioner of police, crime branch, J R Muthaliya said a team comprising inspector D B Barad and Rajesh Suvera have recovered two pistols, nine live cartridges, and cash from the accused who lived in Fatehwadi of Juhapura. Deputy commissioner of police Deepan Bhadran said that about three months ago, the builder had lodged a complaint stating that Mahalingam was trying to extort Rs 3 crore from him. The crime branch had arrested Mahalingam about a month ago.
Assistant commissioner of police B V Gohil said that Mahalingam - who is also wanted for the murder of a tea stall owner in Fatehwadi - met Pathan in jail. "Pathan then mediated and asked the builder, probably from the jail, to pay the money, but the builder refused," Gohil said. Crime branch sources said that on Tuesday Mahalingam called Langha and Mustufa and directed them to go to the builder's office in Juhapura to intimidate him.