NEW DELHI: The Mumbai police’s precipitate public announcement of the deportation of 10 Dawood Ibrahim associates from Dubai has incensed the United Arab Emirates.
Indian and UAE authorities had agreed to carry out the operation unobtrusively. But the crime branch, which coordinated the mission, solicited media coverage for what was indisputably one of the most significant anti-crime operations in recent times.
UAE authorities have conveyed their displeasure to the highest authorities. Police Commissioner AN Roy is also said to be enraged by the unauthorised PR effort.
The deportation has been characterised as a breakthrough for New Delhi in its efforts to crack down on anti-India mafia-terrorist collaborations flourishing in the Gulf. It took several years of intense negotiations to achieve this.
The UAE authorities did not resort to the cumbersome extradition processes, nor did they wait for an Interpol alert. In fact, the global police have not issued a red-corner notice for any of the deportees.
Sources said the Mumbai police, the Central Bureau of Investigation, diplomatic sources, and intelligence contacts collaborated on the operation.
Given India’s growing importance as a global economic power and its capabilities in investments, UAE authorities have, of late, been receptive to its concerns about anti-Indian forces using the Gulf as their base.
New Delhi has been working closely with all the Gulf countries, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which are being used as safe havens and financial centres by underworld and terrorist groups.
