Fugitive underworld don Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, better known as
Chhota Rajan, wanted over a series of murders in India, has been
arrested in Indonesia after decades on the run, police said Monday.
Acting on a tip-off from Australian police, Indonesian authorities
detained Rajan on Sunday as he arrived in the popular resort island of
Bali from Sydney, Bali police spokesman Heri Wiyanto told AFP. The
55-year-old Rajan, gangster in India, had been on the run for two
decades, Mr Wiyanto said, with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man
back in 1995. “We received information from police in Canberra
yesterday (Sunday) about the red notice for a murderer,” he told AFP.
“We arrested the man at the airport yesterday (Sunday). What we know
is that this man was suspected to have carried out 15 to 20 murders in
India.” Up until now Interpol’s actions were limited because of there
being little sanctity to mutual extradition treaties. These have
gained some muscle mass in recent times thanks to the specter of
global terrorism. Not only is it the paperwork and the often rocky
terrain of extradition that has to be navigated but the protection
accorded the accused has to be hundred per cent. Power blocs with
vested interests and guilt from past deeds may well be inclined to
sabotage the journey and it becomes almost impossible with the eagle
eye of the media on the case to ferry such an individual to his home
country. When Interpol meets in Kigali in Rwanda next week for the
84th session of top law enforcement officials from around the world,
they will discuss policing and security issues such as foreign
terrorist fighters, border security, cybercrime, drug trafficking,
corruption and asset recovery.
They would do well to also streamline data exchange, honor their
commitments collectively and unilaterally and be accountable if any
member states are proven to give deliberate harbour and sanctuary to
wanted criminals. While what Interpol achieves is laudable much more
can be done but the global cop can be only as effective as he is
allowed to be. If the countries themselves duck their responsibilities
there is very little Interpol can do. With trafficking in humans
taking precedence as an issue these days a fair amount of resources
have also been exhausted by the refugee problem in Europe and the
sale of the destitute. To stay abreast of technology Interpol now
has a full fledged division to combat cyber crime but its most
important and probably highest hurdle to overcome is transparency from
its 190 members. What will make it most effective is if extradition
becomes integral to all members rather than function on a one to one
which it does, for all practical purposes. At least like we do with
disease there should be some voted onto a list that all members must
accept as needing collective action against the perpetrators.
