It looks like some trouble is brewing in the infamous D-Company as its leader Dawood Ibrahim and his key assistant Chhota Shakeel have reportedly parted ways. The two fled Mumbai in the 1980s and have been living in Karachi, Pakistan, ever since. But it is now being said that Shakeel, who, like Dawood, lived in the Clifton area of the city has moved out and is residing in an unknown location.
Shakeel has been Dawood's most trusted aide for the last 30 years and has been handling the key affairs of the gang. But the cracks in their equation appeared recently when the two had an argument over Dawood's brother Anees Ibrahim's interference in the operations and dealings of the D-Company, sources told the Times of India.
While Shakeel has stood by Dawood through thick and thin for about three decades, it has been said that Anees has of late been trying to usurp his position. Dawood had apparently even warned Anees against interfering in the matters, explaining that Shakeel is the one who would handle the gang's affairs, he refused to back down, leading to an argument between Dawood and Shakeel. This seems to have irked him and he has since reportedly split with Dawood.
Meanwhile, the Intelligence Bureau sources have now told TOI that Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has been trying to sort out the issues between Dawood and Shakeel so that the duo can continue working together. The ISI relies on D-Company for its anti-India activities.
Even though not many know about the split between Dawood and Shakeel even in their circle, those in the know are reportedly worried about the development. They have been working with Shakeel for decades now and have been taking orders from him, but it is being said that now they do not know who will direct them for their activities, which includes extortion, contract killings, and drug-dealing to name a few.
While some are worried about the split and are waiting to find out what happens next, it looks like some of the members of the gang are in denial. A gangster told the daily that Shakeel leaving Dawood was "next to impossible."
"Even Dawood's brothers might ditch him, but not Shakeel. He has been loyal to Dawood all his life. And if there are some differences between them, it could only be because of Anees," he said.
Not just the members of the gang, the split is likely to disturb even its leader Dawood as Shakeel has been his eyes and ears for a long time now. The latter did not only play a major role in the 1993 blasts, coordinated by Dawood, but has also acted as the leader's spokesperson for a long time. Dawood is known to lead an extremely private life and has not spoken to outsiders for about 20 years. All statements have been made only through Shakeel, and now that he may have left the D-Company, it looks like Dawood has only Anees to blame and quite a lot to worry about.
