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Rauf's arrest stuns neighbours,
landlord into silence

Resident of the locality where Abdul Rauf Dawood Merchant alias Razzak stayed for over two months are still in the dark about the man who confessed to killing T-Series owner Gulshan Kumar.

His confession has rattled the residents of Topsia. The most frightened are Rauf's neighbours and Jafar who let out his rooftop house to Rauf on a six-month lease. So much so that no one is even willing to talk about his arrest.

Trying to locate Jafar's house, the common refrain one encountered was - humein kuch pata nahi hain, ham to is mohalle mein naye aaye hain (We don't know anything, we are new to this locality).

Even the local Trinamul Congress corporator Javed Ahmad Khan pleaded ignorance.

No one wanted to comment on Rauf's arrests especially after it was revealed that he was an associate of Karachi-based underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Jafar, who owned a tea stall in the same building, appeared visibly shaken and said he had no knowledge about Rauf's background while giving him accommodation in his building. He had gone ahead with the deal primarily because the Rauf had approached him through a mutual acquaintance, a lady broker, revealed Jafar.

"The lady broker brought him here two-and-a-half-months ago. There was nothing suspicious about Rauf. He looked to be a nice person," said Jafar.

"He said he was a leather exporter from Bombay and had come to Calcutta for his wife's treatment. He offered some money as security deposit, but I refused apprehending his short stay. We being a poor people wouldn't have been able to return the deposited sum had he decided to leave the premises earlier," Jafar told rediff.com.

Rauf would have completed three months here on January 20, he added.

Jafar says neither Rauf nor his wife socialised with the neighbours. Jafar's wife said that even when at home, the couple would often keep the room locked from inside.

Sami, a self-proclaimed muscleman of the area, said he had never found himself as subdued as he was after Rauf's arrest.

"He would greet me every morning with respect, a sign that he too accepted my superiority in the area. But now I feel weak compared to him. What am I before a person who has gunned down Gulshan Kumar and claims to be Dawood's associate. I was badly shaken after hearing this," Sami said.

Mustaqueem, who runs a laundry in the ground floor of the building, said the couple would not converse with him even while giving their clothes for ironing. He, however, was full of praise for Rauf who often paid him more than his due.

Gulam Ghaus, at whose 110, Elliot Road parlour police arrested Rauf on Tuesday evening, was initially reluctant to speak about the episode. However, on gentle prodding, Ghaus opened up.

He admitted having helped the police arrest Rauf. His frightened wife broke into the conversation at regular intervals asking if there was any way to save her husband from Dawood's wrath.

In his early thirties, Ghaus said that Rauf frequently purchased cash-cards (for mobile phones) from his parlour. The first time Rauf had approached Ghaus for a pre-paid mobile card was on October 16, four days before he shifted to Jafar's building.

"Generally, we don't ask the customer's identity, but I repeatedly enquired about Rauf's address, to which I received evasive replies. I didn't insist since he was a good customer. One day, nearing Eid, Rauf asked me if I could lend him some cash for Eid shopping."

"He said the havala (money exchangers) people weren't giving him his dues. Eid being Muslims' biggest festival, I asked him to borrow the needed amount from my friend Ijaz Alam who, in turn, gave me his ATM card to withdraw some money," Ghaus narrated.

How could he lend Rs 10,000 to someone who refused to divulge details of his whereabouts?

Ghaus said his conscience didn't allow him to deny a fellow Muslim something that would have brought joy on Eid. Besides, Rauf had promised to repay the sum in a week, Ghaus added.

Ijaz Alam refused to comment on the issue.

Dilshad Alam, who claimed to be Ijaz's younger brother, told rediff.com that Ijaz gave his ATM to Ghaus since both were good friends.

"Also, since it was iftar (breaking of Ramzan fast) time when Ghaus asked for the money, Ijaz handed over his ATM card asking Ghaus to withdraw Rs 10,000," Dilshad added.

There does appear to be some confusion about from where and when Rauf was arrested by the police.

The police claims to have arrested Rauf in the late afternoon from Ghaus' shop. Ghaus corroborates but says Rauf arrived at his shop at 1845 hours (IST) the day he fell prey to the police dragnet.

Jafar and his wife, on the other hand, said that Calcutta police's Crime Branch arrested Rauf and his 28-year-old wife Meenaz from their house at about 1930 hours.

Whatever be the case, Rauf's arrest and confession has vindicated the Opposition's stand that Calcutta is rapidly metamorphosing into a safe haven for underworld elements.

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