""Ayeessa Kya?" (Is it so?)" continues...

With an AK-47, the first time that a Kalashnikov was ever used in Gujarat, all nine people, including Trivedi, were killed. Latif
was in possession of 5 AK 47 rifles—3 received from Dawood in 1990-’91 and 2 received from Mamu Miyan Panju Miyan, his i.e. (Latif’s) smuggling partner. The AK used in Radhika Gymkana murder was perhaps one of them.

This incident shocked Gujarat and the entire country. Latif, overnight, became the most wanted man for the Gujarat Police.

But more was yet to follow. Following the Radhika Gymkhana episode, Latif was on the run. His shooters had been arrested and had disclosed to the police that it was Latif who had ordered the hit. With the police on his heels, in sheer desperation, Latif approached Hasan Lala, a childhood friend and President of the Gujarat Youth Congress, for help. Lala expressed his inability to be of any assistance to him as a former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament; Rauf Waliullah was gunning for Latif. Rauf would not allow any relief to be given to him. The former MP, reportedly, was likely to publicly raise the issue of the deteriorating law and order situation under the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Chimanbhai Patel and the enormity of Latif’s unchecked criminal activities. The insinuation clearly was that Latif enjoyed the Chief Minister’s patronage. Lala suggested that first Waliullah be eliminated before expecting anyone to come forward to help Latif.

Meanwhile, Latif escaped to Dubai on the advice of Dawood Ibrahim and was under his protection. From Dubai, Latif ordered his trusted lieutenant Rasool Patty to kill Rauf Waliullah. On October 9, 1992 Hasan Lala, the Youth Congress President, tipped Rasool Patty off about the presence of Waliullah at a photo-copying shop near the Town Hall Railway Under Bridge, Ahmedabad. Rasool sent two shooters Sajjad @ Danny and Mohammad @ Fighter, who gunned down Waliullah in broad daylight. The murder, perceived to be politically motivated, sent shock waves down the corridors of power.

To be continued...