Arrest of former bar dancer reveals link between Naxal cadre and drug mafia
Arrest of former bar dancer reveals link between Naxal cadre and drug Mafia
The arrest of kingpin Shaida Sheikh followed by the seizure of a huge consignment of ganja has led Crime Branch officials to believe there are terror links between Naxal cadre and drug cartels in Mumbai.
Acting on a tip-off, officials picked up Shaida alias Simran from her Panvel home on Sunday. The interrogation of the former bar dancer led to the seizure of a truck carrying 2,500 kg of ganja worth Rs 25 lakh.
Govail Singh Hansraj and Rinky Singh, two key drug traffickers, were arrested while ferrying the consignment in to the city.
Shaida also revealed how the money from the sale of ganja is routed to Naxal cadre in Andhra Pradesh.
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ARRESTED: Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Rakesh Maria with the Crime Branch sleuths and the arrested Naxalites. Shaida Sheikh alias Simran, the former bar dancer. |
The ganja originates from the Naxal infested Warangal district in Andhra Pradesh, and the consignment is smuggled through Chhattisgarh, which is a Maoist bastion.
Once the ganja reaches Mumbai, it is dispersed to peddlers and the proceeds are used to buy weapons for Naxals in Andhra Pradesh.
Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Rakesh Maria said, "We are questioning the traffickers, including Shaida, for their possible links with Naxal cadre in Andhra Pradesh.
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Naxals are known to grow drugs in areas under their control, and the money from drugs is used to spread terror."
Investigations revealed that Shaida has made several visits to Naxal infested areas in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to procure ganja.u00a0
Police sources informed that the arrested traffickers could have links with Praja Pratighatna operating from the outskirts of Warangal city.
The group is known to protect ganja farms.u00a0"Naxal cadres are also providing protection for the safe movement of drugs in their areas of operation," added Additional Commissioner of Police (crime) Devan Bharti.
Buying WeaponsProceeds from the drug trade are used to buy country-made weapons from places like Munger in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, which is then transported back to Naxal strongholds in Andhra Pradesh.
The arrest of seven naxalites, including three women, in June this year for selling eight quintal of ganja for buying arms worth over Rs 1 lakh in Warangal could be probed again for more clues in this case, police sourcesu00a0informed.
2,500 kgThe amount of ganja seized by Crime Branch sleuths yesterdayu00a0
