Rediff On The NeT: Munde rules out gangland's involvement in Samant slaying

Munde rules out gangland's involvement in Samant slaying

Syed Firdaus Ashraf in New Delhi

Based on initial evidence, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde says it is unlikely that gangsters Dawood Ibrahim and Arun Gawli are involved in the killing of trade union leader Dr Datta Samant.

Speaking to Rediff On the NeT in Delhi, Munde, who is the state home minister, said the killers travelled by an autorickshaw and fired at Samant with a 9 mm pistol. "This is a weapon not generally used by the underworld," he said.

Munde, who was in Delhi to attend the chief minister's conference along with state Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, said he would review the situation with senior civil servants and police officers as soon he returns to Bombay on Thursday night.

"I have ordered road blocks all over Bombay so that the killers do not escape from the city," he said. "All roads going to the airport and railway stations have been blocked. During the Bombay bomb blasts, the Memons took the road to the airport and escaped. So we are taking all measures to nab the killers."

Munde said the police will interrogate Samant's driver -- who was badly hurt in the attack -- as soon as he is in a condition to speak. They have not spoken either to the trade union leadewr's son who is in a state of shock.

"You cannot say it is our failure. Crime can take place in any society and governments cannot be blamed for all ills," Munde said. "In the last 20 months 11 prominent people were killed in Maharashtra and all the killers have been arrested. I am sure the killers in this case will be arrested soon."