One killed,another hurt in gang war

The battle lasted half an hour. And after firing six bullets,the gangsters managed to escape on their motorbikes. Senior police inspector Dilip Chougule said Pappu was the main target of the attack,but he escaped with a bullet injury on his hand.

Pappu had attacked Ghaiwal near Cummins Company in Kothrud on June 13,2009. Kudle had hit Ghaiwal on the head with a knife,but he survived. The police said Ghaiwal had plans to eliminate Pappu since then,but both Pappu and Marne were arrested and jailed in the case. Pappu was released on bail two months ago.

Police sources said the Kudles,residents of Dattawadi,had come to the Dattawadi police station late on Saturday night for meeting a 17-year-old gang member who was detained in a rioting case. As soon as the Kudles left the police station,around eight people,including Ghaiwal,chased them on four motorbikes. They opened fire on the Kudles,with a bullet hitting Sachin who was riding a motorbike. He died on the spot while pillion rider Balaji Kadam was injured.

The gang continued chasing the van driven by Pappu,which carried about six people. Pappu stopped the van near the Dattawadi police chowki,but was hit by a bullet in the arm before he could enter the chowki. Santosh Gawde,a close aide of Ghaiwal,had also thrown a sharp weapon at him,but it missed the target.

Assistant police inspector BR Naikwadi of Dattawadi police station,the lone policeman present at the chowki at the time,was going home after completing his duty when a resident informed him about the firing. Naikwadi informed his seniors,but could not do much to nab the gangsters.

Pappu lodged a police complaint of murder against Ghaiwal,Gawade and his aides. The police have sent Sachin’s body to the Sassoon Hospital for a postmortem. Teams of Dattawadi police and crime branch are on the trail of suspects.

Ghaiwal,who was a close aide of Marne earlier,had started his own gang following some dispute with Marne. They have been fighting for supremacy ever since. The police said Pappu had nine attempt to murder and rioting cases against him. Sachin had also been booked for an attempt to murder at Swargate.

Open fight
May 13,2009:On Paud Road,Marne gang attacked Nilesh Ghaiwal’s friend Sameer Patil

June 13,2009:In Kothrud,Marne gang attempted to kill Ghaiwal.

March 29,2010:At Shastri Nagar,Ghaiwal opened fire on Sumit Naik (20),an aide of Marne