NIA arrests two associates of gangster Chhota Shakeel for handling Dawood gang's illegal activities

National Investigating Agency (NIA) has arrested two associates of gangster Chhota Shakeel. 

The arrested accused have been identified as  Arif Abubakar Shaikh and Shabbir Abubakar Shaikh. 

A senior NIA official informed both were involved in handling Dawood gang's illegal activities and terror financing in the western suburbs of Mumbai. 

 Both the accused would be produced before an NIA special court later in the day.

NIA official reports, investigations suggest that the entire syndicate is being run by the Dawood gang from across the border. 

The agency also has summoned 21 persons to explain their roles.

Earlier this week, NIA conducted searches at 24 places in Mumbai Commissionerate and five places in Mira Road Bhayandar Commissionerate.

The investigative agency had conducted raids across 29 places in Mumbai and its adjoining districts in connection with the case filed by the NIA on February 3 earlier this year too.

The case pertains to terror and criminal activities of the international terrorist network of fugitive Dawood. 

Dawood Ibrahim was designated as a global terrorist in 2003 by India and the United States, with a reward of 25 million US dollars on his head for his alleged role in the 1993 Bombay serial bomb blasts that resulted in 257 fatalities and 1,400 injuries. 

 Recently, the Pakistan government-sanctioned Dawood Ibrahim and 87 others for terror-related activities to evade being put on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.