Leaked audio clip reveals rivalry to control lucrative inter-state cattle smuggling rackets

Nagpur: A leaked audio clip between one Irfan and a Jameel highlights the cut-throat rivalry among top gangsters to gain control over the multi-crore interstate cattle smuggling rackets thriving across Central India. The rivalry shows Nagpur has become a hub for the trade, connecting cattle smugglers in rest of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
Gangster Irfan is heard in the over 9 minute leaked audio clip having a verbal spat with Jameel, revolving around their cattle smuggling rivalry. The clip, which TOI shared with commissioner of police Amitesh Kumar, also contains mention of an incident of firing on Jameel, for which he is heard holding Irfan responsible.
Irfan, who is known to help cattle smugglers against ‘protection money’, was heard threatening Jameel for having leaked to the police the movement of his gang member’s trucks ferrying cattle to an illegal slaughterhouse. Jameel, who was once a close friend of Irfan, also accuses Irfan of leaking his information to the police.
According to an insider, close aides of Irfan had fired into the ground at Jameel’s feet to threaten him. Jameel was also once kidnapped and taken to Gadchiroli.
Cattle is usually smuggled from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to Hyderabad via Nagpur, which has is considered a hub for racketeers.
Sources claimed Irfan, who has several offences from the past, is known as a gunrunner with a base in Maoist-affected Gadchiroli. He had been collecting Rs4,000 for every truck trip by racketeers carrying cattle to slaughterhouses in and around Nagpur and other places in Vidarbha. He assures to manage the police, RTO and other agencies. Irfan’s rate for assisting racketeers to make safe deliveries to Hyderabad is Rs5,000.
While Irfan had been the unchallenged kingpin in the cattle smuggling racket, another dreaded gangster from Nagpur, Abu, is learnt to have started taking interest in the trade. Abu, who had got a controversial bail in a narcotics case, too has several offences against him. Sources said Abu had started tapping Irfan’s resources and network, leading to stiff rivalry between them. It’s learnt Abu had even offered shelter to anyone miffed with Irfan.
The smuggled cattle are mostly sent to different parts of Vidarbha from Nagpur, and also some parts of western Maharashtra. Cattle from different parts of Vidarbha, where poor farmers are known to be affected by agrarian crisis, are also sold to these racketeers. These cattle are sent to different places in Maharashtra and also places like Hyderabad via Nagpur.
Irfan is learnt to have a vast network in eastern Vidarbha, including Gadchiroli, Gondia and Chandrapur. He is helped by seasoned racketeers like Javed, Tahir, Mobin, Pappu, Lala and Faizul. Abu too has dreaded racketeer Rafiq by his side, said a source.
CP Kumar said he would look into the matter after TOI shared the audio clip with him.