Salem sharpshooter arrested from Vile Parle

Rajesh Arjun Hatankar, a 35-year-old resident of Thane and alleged sharpshooter for Abu Salem, was arrested near the Vile Parle railway station on Saturday night after the Juhu police received information that someone was causing a commotion at the marketplace next to the station.

“Hatankar was under the influence of some drug when we arrested him. Interrogations revealed that he is Abu Salem’s close aide.

“Hatankar has been involved in seven cases of murder, mostly that of businessmen at the behest of Salem,” said Assistant Police Inspector Jagdish Sahil of the Juhu police.

Sahil said Hatankar, a native of Akola, was also involved in the murders of police informers Aziz Khabri and Iqbal Langda, both in the year 1998.

“Three months ago, Hatankar had committed a dacoity at Vitthalwadi in Thane, where he stole Rs5 lakh from a house,” he said.

Speaking about the significance of the arrest, a police official said, “Hatankar had met Salem at Arthur Road jail and was in constant touch with him. As Hatankar was Salem’s trusted lieutenant, the arrest will certainly put a break to Salem’s operations from prison.”

The police also seized a country-made revolver and a live cartridge from Hatankar. He has been remanded him in police custody till Tuesday.