Arrest of former bar dancer reveals link between Naxal cadre and drug Mafia

The arrest of kingpin Shaida Sheikh followed by the seizure of a huge consignment of ganja has led Crime Branch officials to believe there are terror links between Naxal cadre and drug cartels in Mumbai.

Acting on a tip-off, officials picked up Shaida alias Simran from her Panvel home on Sunday. The interrogation of the former bar dancer led to the seizure of a truck carrying 2,500 kg of ganja worth Rs 25 lakh.

Govail Singh Hansraj and Rinky Singh, two key drug traffickers, were arrested while ferrying the consignment in to the city.

Shaida also revealed how the money from the sale of ganja is routed to Naxal cadre in Andhra Pradesh.

ARRESTED: Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Rakesh Maria with the Crime Branch sleuths and the arrested Naxalites. Shaida Sheikh alias Simran, the former bar dancer.