MUMBAI
After the recent death of police informers, the khabri network appears to have gone underground. DNA’s Neeta Kolhatkar finds out what’s hiding in the dark.
After the recent death of police informers, the khabri network appears to have gone underground. But informers say they have nothing to fear as long as they do not blow their cover. DNA’s Neeta Kolhatkar moves into the city’s shadows to find out what’s hiding in the dark
Police are also guardians
Rafiq’s neighbours think he works for the police. What they don’t know is that the the 37-year-old is actually an informer. When his friend Michael was killed by the Chhota Rajan gang, Rafiq gave up being a driving school instructor to turn informer and avenge his friend.
“I used to earn only Rs5,000 a month with tips, but I was happy. Then Michael’s death spurred me to track down his killers and hand them over to the police,” he says. He found them, after scouring local hideouts and dance bars. That was the start of a new career.
Rafiq’s breakthrough came when he tipped the cops off about a shooter called Sayed Jamaluddin alias Shendya. “Shendya had nearly 50 cases against him. For a fortnight the police asked me to tail him and I did,” he says. Eventually Rafiq spotted Shendya on the terrace of a flat, and informed the police. They moved in and picked him up.
Rafiq received considerable monetary rewards. But he knows the job is risky. A few years ago, after he helped the police hunt down and kill some Abu Salem aides, the gangster was after him. Rafiq even escaped a bid on his life in Oshiwara. “I knew Salem was after me, but that didn’t stop me,” he says.
Rafiq believes to survive in this profession, he needs to cultivate smaller gangsters who can provide him with the requisite tips. So he plays on their addiction for alcohol and bar dancers, and often takes them out.
The sixth-grade drop-out used to live with his parents and brother, but later moved out. “I don’t want to risk the lives of my elderly parents,” he says. He praises the police, but says not all of them have stood by him. “I can tell if a cop is trustworthy the way I can sniff out criminals,” he says.
Cops treat us like used condoms
Murtuza, 47, came to Mumbai 18 years ago from his village in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. The knife-sharpener-turned-drug dealer-turned-informer, wanted to make it big in the city. He began in the narcotics trade. “Maal would come from Pakistan to Rajasthan, and then to Mumbai. The boss I worked for would then distribute it among dealers in the city,” he says. But when his boss died, Murtuza was hounded by enemies and surrendered to the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC).
He then tipped them off about a big consignment, and became an informer. The rewards began coming in too. “The police reward only the khabris they work with. They can often be selfish with others,” he says. From 1991, Murtuza went from giving information about the drug trade to that about gangsters. “Once I tipped off the police about a man smuggling deer skins, but they never rewarded me,” he says.
Today Murtuza has a network of khabris of his own. And, like others in the trade, has been under attack. “We all have to die eventually, so might as well die being courageous,” he says. After he got married and had three children, Murtuza became more cautious. His family knows nothing about what he does and he believes this will keep them safe. “My wife need not know what I do. So I have to be careful around my family,” he says.
The khabri, however, feels its time the police changed its outlook towards informers. “Some policemen treat us like used condoms and flush us out of their memories. They should realise we are also helping them,” says Murtuza. He has already planned his next career, should khabri work become too dangerous. “I have helped gang members get bail. I can always switch to legal work.”
Khabris can be tech-savvy too
Pappu, 32, is like the CEO of the khabri world. Although not a graduate, he is more sophisticated and tech-savvy than his peers, with a keen business sense that he uses to track information.
Mumbra-based Pappu and his brothers have been informants for a while. He is a self-proclaimed do-gooder who has helped put away 45 gangsters. In the 90s, when the eastern suburbs were in the grip of gangsters, Pappu’s family lived in Vikhroli and his elder brother faced death threats. That was when the two brothers decided to hit back. “We were targets for the underworld despite being law-abiding, tax-paying citizens,” says a defensive Pappu. The duo, with the help of locals, soon began providing information to the encounter squad.
“At that time, gangsters had killed 13 innocent traders, soil merchants and small businessmen who refused to buckle under their terror. So I decided to help get these rascals killed in encounters,” he says. “We are offered rewards from the police fund, but we don’t work for money. By the grace of Allah, we have a good business.”
He believes in the relationship the police have nurtured with him. Pappu’s own network of informers works on the principle, like that of their boss, that a criminal, no matter which community he belongs to, should be behind bars. “We do not discriminate because someone is from our community,” he says.
Pappu believes today’s crime is no different from before, except that gangsters are more plugged into technology. He and his brother believe in it too, so use their cellphones and the internet to stay ahead of the gangster pack. “If the police need informants who are good with technology, I’m certain we can help,” says Pappu.
Somebody misbehaved with Alia Bhatt on Highway sets then Imtiaz Ali had to...
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals twist behind Rs 200000 job fee, closes application window
Days after Ratan Tata's demise, Tata Group's Rs 131000 crore company inks pact with ADB for...
WATCH: Woman makes Biryani with Parle-G biscuits, viral video fumes internet
Only train in India in which passengers can travel for FREE; check route, timings and more
'Justice for biryani': Parle-G biryani takes internet by storm, video goes viral
DNA TV Show: Why Gautam Adani charged with bribery and fraud in US
IND vs AUS: Records Virat Kohli can break during Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Diljit Dosanjh fans get angry over Ananya Panday's birthday post for her grandmother, here's why
Reddit suffers outage with ‘upstream connect error’ message, says 'currently investigating...'
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: How has Jasprit Bumrah fared in Tests in Australia?
Delhi records coldest night of the season, temp drops to...
Crossing the Line: Ukraine's Use of Storm Shadow Missiles and the Escalation of Conflict
When Malaika Arora talked about the controversial ‘instant pleasure’ ad, it was for…
This is the world’s most expensive shopping street, not Fifth Avenue, New Bond Street, it is...
Big setback for Gautam Adani, Kenya cancels Rs 6216 crore deal with Adani Group due to...
Viral video: Man’s jugaad to stay warm in winter will leave you SHOCKED, watch here
Hinduja Group firm gets key approval for acquisition of Anil Ambani's debt-ridden Reliance Capital
Viral video: Middle-Class man lives dream of having tea at Taj Hotel, netizens applauds
Shloka Mehta looks stunning in white floral kurta as she clicked with Akash Ambani, it costs Rs....
Who is Sagar Adani, Gautam Adani's nephew, accused of bribery, fraud charges in US?
PayPal down: Several users face issue while logging into accounts, say 'no one could...'
IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins eye historic captaincy milestone in Perth Test
BGT 2024, Ind vs Aus: Can Shubhman Gill be the new Cheteshwar Pujara? Is he really ready?
The Ultimate Guide to Luxury Gifting: Discover Heirloom Pashmina by Pashmina.com
Effortless Relocations: The Perks Of Professional Removalists In Melbourne
Watch: Pakistan fan with 'Imran Khan' poster asked to leave Hobart stadium in Australia
International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for...
What is demisexuality? Everything you need to know about this lesser-known sexual orientation
WATCH: World’s shortest woman meets world’s tallest woman, video goes viral
IND vs AUS 1st Test: Predicted playing XIs, Perth weather forecast and pitch report
IND vs AUS: When will Rohit Sharma join India squad? Check latest update
'Scam 2024': Diljit Dosanjh lookalike pranks people on Pune streets, video goes viral
Delhi Air Pollution: Centre announces staggered work timings for govt employees; check details
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio loses nearly 80 lakh subscribers in just 30 days, BSNL adds...
IND vs AUS, 1st Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs Australia match
Amitabh Bachchan opens up on Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan divorce rumours
This country has most expensive passport in world, not US, UK, UAE, it costs Rs...
Amid rising air pollution, Delhi-NCR's crematorium records cleanest air; check AQI here
Revolutionising Medical Imaging: Venudhar Rao Hajari’s impact on healthcare technology
Abhishek Gupta and Onevision Media: Scaling brands on social media
Video shows Korean girl eating jalebi for first time, her reaction to Indian sweet goes viral
Cristiano Ronaldo confirms THIS YouTube star as his next guest, says, 'Will break Internet'
Delhi Assembly Elections: AAP releases first list of 11 candidates for 2025 polls
Adani Group's FIRST REACTION after US indicts Gautam Adani in alleged bribery case
Instagram introduces new feature, know how to reset app's algorithm, change your feed
No mention of Aaradhya Bachchan in Amitabh Bachchan's post on birthdays, it happened recently
Oppo Find X8 and X8 Pro launched in India, check specifications, price, other details
Charges against Gautam Adani: BJP's scathing attack on Congress, questions timing of development
Jasprit Bumrah's BIG statement on taking up Perth test captaincy, says, 'tactically better...'
Blackout on breaks: Company imposes no-sick-leave policy until 2025
Drug-laden terrorists on India's western, northern frontiers
Mohammad Shami trolls Sanjay Manjrekar over IPL auction bid prediction, says, 'Baba ki...'
IND vs AUS Test: When and where to watch 1st match of Border-Gavaskar trophy, know details here
CAQM amends Grap Stages III, IV, enforces stricter measures in Delhi-NCR amid air pollution woes
Malayalam actor Meghanathan passes away at 60 after suffering from...
Adani Green Energy's FIRST reaction after US indicts Gautam Adani in alleged bribery case
'Keep me out of...': Pakistani Instagram star Mathira on MMS leak controversy
Delhi Air Pollution: AQI marginally improves from 'severe' to 'very poor' category
Meet actress who worked with Alia Bhatt, was asked to 'compromise', connected to Aishwarya Rai by..
Aishwarya Rai’s remark on Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘habits’ goes viral amid divorce rumours with Abhishek