Ahmedabad/Udaipur, June 21 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested former member of the notorious Abdul Latif gang, Mohammad Tasleem, a life convict in the 1992 Radhika Gymkhana massacre case and an accused in former Rajya Sabha MP Rauf Valiullah’s murder case, after he remained absconding for around seven years following a parole jump, officials said on Sunday.

According to the Crime Branch, the accused had escaped custody during a temporary parole release in 2019 and subsequently evaded arrest by frequently changing his location, identity and means of communication across multiple states.

Acting on specific human and technical intelligence inputs, a team of officers traced him to Rajasthan, where he was apprehended in a coordinated operation in Udaipur before being taken into custody and brought back under police escort.

Further legal procedures are underway to transfer him to Sabarmati Central Jail.

Police stated that Mohammad Tasleem, also known as Mohammad Tasleem Mohammad Umar Sheikh, was a key operative and shooter associated with the Abdul Latif gang during the 1990s gang conflict period in Ahmedabad.

He was convicted in connection with the 1992 Radhika Gymkhana Club attack in the Odhav area of Ahmedabad, where armed assailants allegedly opened fire using automatic weapons, including AK-47 rifles, targeting rival bootlegger Hansraj Trivedi.

The incident resulted in the deaths of nine people and is considered among the early cases involving the use of assault rifles in organised gang violence in the state.

He was also involved in the murder case of former Rajya Sabha member and Congress leader Rauf Valiullah, who was reportedly targeted in connection with efforts to expose gang activities in the massacre.

DCP (Crime Branch) Ajit Rajian said the accused had been on the run since violating parole and had been actively avoiding arrest by altering his identity and working in property-related activities to avoid suspicion.

“It is being informed that in 1992, there was a highly sensational attack at Radhika Gymkhana in Ahmedabad in which more than nine people were killed. This was the first case in Ahmedabad where an automatic weapon, the AK-47, was used,” he said.

He further added, “The main accused was Tasleem Umar Sheikh. He had earlier been sentenced to life imprisonment, which was also upheld by the Supreme Court. He was absconding on parole jump since 2019-20, and after receiving intelligence inputs, the Crime Branch team arrested him from Udaipur and sent him behind bars.”

Describing his efforts to evade detection, he said, “He is a highly dangerous offender. He knew that the police were very alert; therefore, he had also got married in Udaipur. He tried to lead a normal life there and was engaged in property dealing so that local people would not suspect that he was such a serious criminal.”

He also noted that the accused had earlier attempted to settle during a previous parole period. “Yes, during parole in 2016, he got married and tried to start a new life with a family there so that his criminal past could remain hidden,” the officer said.

Police added that further investigation is underway to establish his recent movements, contacts and possible assistance received during his period of absconding.

–IANS

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