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Gangster Ashwin Naik taken to Delhi

Gangster Ashwin Naik, who was arrested by the West Bengal police while trying to cross the Indo-Bangladesh border last week, is being taken to Delhi for interrogation.

Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) D Sivanandan told reporters in Bombay today that the Crime Branch had rushed two teams of senior officials to New Delhi and Calcutta to co-ordinate investigations. The Delhi police has obtained arrest and transfer warrants.

"We expect him to be brought here in the next seven to eight days," Sivanandan said. Naik is wanted in several cases of murder, extortion and attempt to murder.

Naik, brother of slain gangster Amar Naik, has been evading arrest since 1994.

He was caught by the 24 Parganas district police when trying to sneak into Bangladesh using bogus papers. He was in a wheelchair when he was caught.

Five other gang members were also arrested by the West Bengal police. Their names are: Krushik Mallik, Arun Mukherjee, Sunil Biswas, Joy Singh alias Jai and Mahesh Sarang alias Rajput.

Naik, an engineering graduate, underwent plastic surgery a few months ago to escape identification.

He was paralysed after being shot in the head at point-blank range by a member of the rival Arun Gawli gang in the TADA court premises in south Bombay on April 19, 1994.

He was later shifted to the JJ Hospital, where he underwent treatment for six months before being released. Soon after his release he went into hiding.

UNI

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