While dealing with the Mumbai Mafia and encounters in Mumbai is something that creates a breakthrough with its high frequency of encounter killings. These encounters have been at its prime in Mumbai specially during the 1990's to mid 2000's.Encounter killings took a peak to sweep out the underworld racket in Mumbai.
The first killing that was identified in Mumbai as an encounter was of the gangster Manya Surve was shot by police officers Raja Tamba and Isaque Bagwan at the Wadala area. Julio Riberio was Mumbai's Police Commissioner at that time in 1983.
The rigorous policy was followed and gangster Rama Naik was next to be shot dead in a high-profile encounter in 1984.
Some of the Encounter Specialists as we call them are listed below:
Pradeep Sharma- Victims Gunned- 113 His encounters follow from Agra to Maharashtra. Joined State Police Service in 1983 and became a senior Inspector in the Mumbai Crime Branch. Lakhan Bhaiya who was considered to be Chhota Rajan's right hand was also killed by Pradeep Sharma in an 'planned encounter'.
Daya Nayak- Victims gunned- 83 Daya Nayak is known for sweeping 80 culprits of terror gang while he was a member of the Mumbai Encounter Squad.
Praful Bhonsale- Victims Gunned- 90 Also a part of Death Squad, Praful Bhonsale has been known for bringing a investigative change in the Mumbai underworld and is known for the award 'Best Detection Officer', he earned in 2000-01.
The most important victims he gunned down in 2002 was Arif Kalia, who was a part of the Chhota Shakeel gang.Though he was arrested for allegedly killing Yunus in police custody.
Vijay Salaskar- Victims Gunned- 83 Been a part of the batch of Pradeep Sharma and later, joined him in the league of encounter specialists. He was considered a professional encounter specialist known for his accurate and precise hunting of terrorists.
Amar Naik and Sada Pawle were the culprits gunned by Vijay Salaskarin mid-nineties.He died in action by terrorists in November 2008.
Sachin Hindurao Vaze- Victims Gunned-63 Assistant police Inspector of Mumbai, he is well known for bringing down 63 most wanted criminals of the terror gang.
The list of encounters include Munna Nepali, Krishna Shetty, Lashker-E-Toiba terrorists who were involved in the bomb blasts of Goregaon. He was also involved in gunning down Yunus with Praful Bhonsale.
Ravindra Angre- Victims Gunned- 51 The network of informants in Thane region with the organized crime was swiped clean by this officer that earned him the encounter specialist.
Since the Mumbai blasts case was cracked, the Encounter specialist squad played a major role in limiting the actions of Dawood Ibrahim, Chota Shakeel, Chhota Rajan, Ali Budesh and Arun Gawli but after the rival dons Dawood and Rajan fled to their separate headquarters outside India, the squad was dissolved.
Later it was revived to scan the train bombings in July 2006. But ending the squad operations was tragic with departure of Waze and Nayak from the service and the death of Vijay Salaskar during the Taj Terrorist attack.
Sachin Waze 63 Killed including key members of Chotta Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim's gangs
Waze joined Maharashtra police in 1990 and resigned in November 2007. Waze also had special skills in tackling cyber crimes. He, reportedly, carried modern gadgets and gizmos. A case of the custodial death of software engineer Khwaja Yunus was filed against him in December 2002. It was reported that Waze allegedly punched Yunus in the stomach and poured a bucket of cold water on him, which led to his death.
Ravindranath Angre 52 Killed including famous underworld don Suresh Machekar and members of gangster Amar Naik's gang
In 2008, Thane-based builder, Ganesh Wagh filed a complaint of threatening, extortion and robbery against Angre, following which the officer was arrested and suspended. He spent months in prison and was released in May 2009. In 2010, Angre was again arrested on charges of attempt to murder Wagh's brother Mahesh. The cop was granted conditional bail after spending 49 days in jail. Angre was acquitted by a sessions court for lack of circumstantial evidence or eyewitness in 2011.
He was later reinstated into the force and transferred to Gadchiroli. Angre refused to accept his transfer, following which he was dismissed from service in June 2014. Angre, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party earlier this year, is now being considered as the man to take on Shiv Sena and the NCP in the Thane Municipal elections to be held in 2017.