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The Cohorts Of Crime

In his vast network, Dawood retains loyalty with big money

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The Cohorts Of Crime
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Ahmed still preserves some pictures of the good old days in India. In one picture, he's offering sweets to Indian film actor Feroze Khan, in others he's sitting with upcoming actors of that time. Another displays Chotta Shakeel's speedboat which he bought in Dubai, and one photo shows all the gangsters playing a night-cricket match in Dubai.

There're hundreds of people like Ahmed spread across West Asia, India and Pakistan. They work for Dawood or Shakeel and earn a handsome living. "You cannot imagine how much they pay you. An acquaintance of mine, whose family member died for Dawood, gets $2,000 a month. It's for life," says a Pakistani trader. While Dawood buys loyalty, and while his men claim that Bhai never abandons any of his men, he's reputed to be demanding and doesn't tolerate those who "lie or disobey". Such is the case of Aejaz Pathan. One of the key accused in the Mumbai blasts and a Dawood confidant, he along with several others joined the don in Karachi to begin a new life. As the story goes, Aejaz Pathan continued to smuggle drugs out of Pakistan despite repeated warnings from Dawood. One day Dawood came to know that Aejaz had begun dealing in RDX. So he rang up his Pakistani mentors who raided Aejaz's house and arrested him. It was only when Aejaz's wife personally pleaded with Dawood that he was released, but on condition that he'd leave Karachi for Dubai and never come back.

Contrary to popular notions in India, Dawood's gang also has Hindu members. "Despite the blasts we have many Hindu boys working for us. Those who work for him in India get a handsome commission. Though Chotta Rajan has left us, we still have many Hindus. Bhai has that personality that endears him to his men. Once you start working for him you can't abandon him," says a close associate. Talk of secular crime!

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