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Chhota Rajan receives fresh threats

Underworld don Chhota Rajan, who was injured in a shootout by a rival gang members in Bangkok more than ten days back, Thursday refused to identify the alleged attackers as he testified before a court in the Thai capital.

A pale-looking Rajan, who entered Thailand as Vijay Daman, was brought to the southern Bangkok criminal court on a stretcher hooked onto glucose bottles with heavily-armed securitymen forming a ring around him.

During his two-hour testimony and interrogation, Rajan told the court that everything happened so fast that he could not see any attacker, a lawyer said.

The Bombay underworld don was injured when assailants of a rival gang barged into an apartment of Indian jeweller Michael D'Souza on September 15 and opened fire. D'Souza was killed in the shootout while his wife Sangeeta Sharma was injured.

Four persons - three Pakistanis and a Thai national - have been arrested in connection with the incident.

However, after seeing the sketches of four persons, Sangeeta Sharma told the police that one of them had been the killer and she could spot him if he ever came before her.

The victims told the court what happened that night. But they refused to say why they were attacked, said the lawyer.

After testifying as witness, Rajan was taken in an ambulance to another court in connection with a case pertaining to violation of immigration laws.

Clean shaven, Rajan looked tried but alert. A doctor and a nurse always stood by his side. Emerging out of the court, he said that he would return to India and surrender there.

"India jaana hai. Main yahan se jaoonga sab khatam hone ke baad aur surrender karoonga (I will go to India after everything is over here and surrender there)," Rajan said in a feeble voice.

However, a top Thai police official Gen Chakthib revealed that Thai authorities were still awaiting a formal request from India on Rajan's extradition.

The authorities have found that Rajan, who had entered the country under the name Vijay Daman, filed a false statement while requesting to change his tourist visa to a business visa. The offence carries six months' imprisonment or a fine.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Salim, one of those who made the abortive attempt on the life of Rajan, on Thursday, warned that there would be another attempt on Rajan's life within two months.

"We will again attempt to kill Chhota Rajan in two months. We have come from Pakistan. This is an enmity between two gangs," Salim told reporters outside the court where he, along with three other suspects, was produced.

Replying to a question, Salim said he was deputed by Chhota Shakeel for the task of eliminating Rajan.

Salim, along with two other Pakistanis and a Thai, was arrested in connection with the murderous attack on Rajan in Bangkok on September 15.

Two lawyers came from Pakistan to defend Salim. However, by the time they arrived, the court had already provided him with a lawyer.

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