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The assault on film producer and director Lawrence D'Souza (49), who was shot at by two persons outside his Oshiwara office in Mumbai on Thursday evening, may have been the handiwork of ganglord Chhota Rajan, who wants to increase his clout in the film industry.
Two gunmen fired two bullets at D'Souza when he was standing at the gate outside the building housing his office on Thursday evening.
One of them hit the building's gate while the other struck a wall.
The two assailants have been identified as belonging to the Rajan gang working under Ijaz Lakdawala, Oshiwara police said.
Police, however, refused to say if D'Souza had sought security.
D'Souza has directed films like Saajan and Dil ka kya kasoor.
In the last fortnight, D'Souza had twice received threats from the Chhota Rajan gang, police said.
Tejasvi Rao, his long-standing aide, said: "He was standing alone at the gate when the men fired at him. His driver was inside having some snacks."
As soon as the men started firing, the director ran into a neighbour's house and shut the door.
In the meantime, the two men fled the scene, she said.
On the threats received by D'Souza, Rao said: "The threats are probably because he is starting work on a new film. He has no enemies."
She said the director was to speak to a senior police official about the incident.
Two policemen were stationed in the lobby of D'Souza's residence in Andheri late on Thursday night.
Senior crime branch officials suspect the aim was only to intimidate and not to kill.
So far this year, 33 film personalities, including some small time tele-serial producers, had received threats from the underworld.
In June, film director Sohail Khan had been contacted by a person identifying himself as Ijaz, who had asked for goodwill money on the eve of the release of his film.
On the advise of Inspector Pradeep Shinde of the anti-Extortion cell, Khan has employed private security guards.
Khan has directed films like Auzaar and Hello brother with brother Salman Khan in lead roles.
More reports on Maharashtra
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