Capital’s gangsters align and realign

Capital’s gangsters align and realign
ekantipur, 15-Nov-08

In the world of the capital's gangland, relationships between the dons and their cronies can often be volatile. Gangsters often ditch their group leaders and join another criminal gang or form criminal group on their own in Kathmandu Valley.

Police say the capital's gang members have always been on the move. They cut off their connection with former bosses -- be they politicians or local goons-- and search new avenues to smoothly operate their underground business.

If police records is anything to go by, some top gangsters, who are the most notorious among dozens of gangsters, had close connections with one another in the past.

But over the last few years, with new gangsters joining the fray, there is more than usual realignments, say police.

"The gangsters in the capital have always been breaking their links with their gang leaders and forging new relations with another group or powerful people," said Senior Superintendent of Police Upendra Kant Aryal. "They are doing this to fulfill their vested ambitions. They cannot remain loyal to anyone, they only look after opportunity. "

Some of the gangsters associated with Deepak Manage 'Rajeev Gurung' and Chakre Milan, two of the most powerful gangsters, have already ditched these dons and established themselves as gang leaders in different parts of the Valley, says an inspector from the Metropolitan Police Crime Division.

For instance, Kumar 'Ghainte' Shrestha has formed his own gang after he developed a bitter relation with Manage. Police said the old-time rivalry of these gang members also prompt gang fights and criminal activities.

On Nov. 9, Ghainte shot Amit Lama, owner of Club Platinum, a discotheque located at Durbar Marg, for no apparent reason. But actually, according to the police, Ghainte had aimed at Dawa Lama, a member of Manage group, who was with Amit Lama. In fact, according to police, Amit Lama had a good rapport with Ghainte.

Extortion from businessmen, submitting tender bids and sand mining from different parts in the capital are the main sources of income of these gangsters. They also run business establishments like restaurants and dance bars in the Valley.

Police say gangsters are also allied with powerful political parties -- some are in contact with the Maoists, CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and others.

But like opportunist politicians, gangsters too break their alliance with one political party and get close to another one in search of better opportunities and income. Police sources said some of the top gangsters had come in contact with the Young Communist League (YCL) in the past. Now the same gangsters are in contact with the Youth Force, police claim.

Ghainte is said to be close with Nepali Congress, Chakre Milan with CPN-UML, Deepak Manage with Nepali Congress. Manage was also close with RPP and Maoists in the past, according to the inspector who did not want his name to be mentioned.