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‘Isaque Ibrahim Bagwan’, / ‘Isak Ibrahim Bagwan’ is a retired Assistant Commissioner Of Police, Mumbai of the batch 1974- 2009. He is a three-time recipient of the “Police Medal for Gallantry by the President” (IInd Bar on Police Medal for Gallantry by the President) Award.
As per Mumbai Police records, he is the first officer from the force to have killed a criminal in an encounter in Mumbai. He is also the first police officer to shoot at and apprehend a fleeing criminal during court proceedings in a sessions court in Mumbai. Bagwan was also praised for his work at Nariman House during the 26/11/2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai for saving hundreds of lives. He had taken charge of Nariman House/ Chabbad House during the deadly terrorist attack and restricted the terrorists’ movements for sixteen hours with just twelve men until NSG commandos arrived.
He is the author of the book named “Me Against The Mumbai Underworld”, published in July 2018 by Blue Salt, Penguin Random House India. In this book he has put together few of his cases and experiences from his career. The book also depicts crime scene that prevailed in Mumbai and showcases the work of Mumbai Police.
Early life:
He was born in Baramati, district: Pune. Though his father Ibrahim Manik Bagwan, wanted him to become a Lawyer. He fought his way and got admission in the Nashik Police Academy.
In popular culture
The bollywood movie Shootout At Wadala portrayed Isaque Bagwan’s encounter of the criminal Manya Surve. Actor Anil Kapoor’s role was based on Isaque Bagwan in the movie.
Police Career
He started his career as a Sub-Inspector from Santacruz police station and was then posted to Colaba, followed by Detection Crime Branch CID, Crime Branch - Drug Control, Colaba, Marine Drive, Malabar Hill and then retired from Azad Maidan as an Assistant Commisisoner of Police
He has worked with the likes of Madhukar Zende (credited with two time arrest of the serial killer Charles Sobhraj) who was his mentor and his Senior at the Crime Branch along with officers Ranbir Leekha and Isaac Samson.
He had shot down criminal Shaikh Munir who used to work for Manya Surve.
He received three Gallantry Medal for Police by the President which were recommended by Police Commissioners K.P Medhekar, Julio Rebeiro and Hasan Gafoor.
Here are the incidents for which he received the Gallantry medals.
1st Gallantry Medal:
Manya Surve Encounter - January 11, 1982
Manya Surve, an infamous gangster from Dadar, wanted for several extortions, heists and murders had run havoc in Mumbai in late 1970’s.
Excerpts on Manya Surve from the book “Me Against The Mumbai Underworld” by Isaque Bagwan :-
- (Manya’s brother Bhargav Surve used to run a matka/gambling den in Dadar. Bhargav had clashes with his rival Datey-Dandekar gang in Dadar who were also in the matka business. Bhargav and Manya were arrested by PI Dhabolkar for the murder of Dandekar and sentenced to life imprisonment by the court. On hearing the verdict, an enraged Manya threatened to kill PI Dabholkar before the court judge.
- Manya was sent to Yerwada Jail in Pune. He planned his escape by feigning illness. He was admitted to Sassoon General Hospital for intensive care under police supervision. Manya’s friends Bajya Sawant and Shaikh Munir helped him escape. The police conducted a manhunt, but every time they would be about to nab him, he would manage to get away. Manya also started threatening PI Dabholkar over the telephone, and even went to the extent of stalking him. Such was the impact on PI Dabholkar that he moved to New Delhi to live with his daughter.
- On 4 March 1977, Manya fell into a trap set by the Crime Branch and was sent to Yerwada Jail again. Subhash Bhaskar Potya who had a gambling den in Dadar was Manya’s rival and he too, was serving a sentence in Yerwada. Both of them came to blows frequently and, consequently, Manya was shifted to Ratnagiri Jail. There, Manya went on a hunger strike. There was no option but to shift him to a government hospital. Of course, Manya had thought of this in advance and was waiting for an opportunity to escape.
- On 14 November 1979, Manya managed to flee from the hospital despite an armed police escort being present. Once outside, he formed a new gang consisting of Prakash aka Shendi Misal, Uday Shetty, Bajya Sawant, Shaikh Munir, Ravi Kamathi and Kishore Sawant and spread a reign of terror in Bombay and its surrounding towns. The gang looted hotels, bars and matka gambling dens in broad daylight. And then Manya dealt a blow to the police by planning an attack on Vijay, a convict in police custody, who happened to be an enemy of Shendi Misal. Manya’s gang overtook the police jeep carrying Vijay and stopped it. When the two constables in the jeep got out, Manya stabbed them with a gupti (dagger). The driver of the jeep sped away and Vijay survived. The stabbing of the policemen caused a furore. On 24 April 1980, Manya and his gang looted Rs 1,50,000 from a milk supply van in Mahim. On 28 April 1980, they looted Rs 1,60,000 in Navi Mumbai. The police launched a full-scale war against Manya’s gang and arrested Krishna, Chandu and Kishore. Manya, however, remained absconding. He had now armed himself with a new weapon: acid. Being a student of science, he was aware of its lethal effects and ways to procure it.
- In one case, Manya entered the office of Ashok Mastakar of Mastakar Travels in Dadar and threw acid on him for not meeting his demands. This was despite the fact that Ashok was his classmate in school. A grievously injured Ashok had to be rushed to Sion Hospital. A police escort was stationed there. But Manya had the audacity to enter the hospital in the guise of a doctor and threaten Mastakar there too. Another of Manya’s victims was Mangal, a provision storekeeper. Mangal, however, succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Manya then targeted Slimwell Gymnasium in Mahim, which was owned by one Pappi Patil. Patil, a bodybuilder, refused to give in to Manya’s threats. Manya responded by shooting at Patil with a pistol in his gym. The bullet hit Patil in the thigh. While Manya fled from there, his double game worked out just as planned. An injured Patil was more likely to pay up and a lethal attack on a famous bodybuilder would send a message to the others to either pay up or face the consequences.)
- In 1981, PI Isaac Samson, CID Crime Branch, was leading a team with the charge of arresting Manya Surve. One of his team members, PI Yashwant Bhide had got a tip off on Manya’s next heist through his close informer. Manya was in need of a stolen car, which was goingManya Surve to be arranged by Bhide’s informer. Manya had planned to rob a bank in New Mumbai, Vashi.
- Operation Manya Surve was planned by PI Samson to nab this gangster.
- Two teams were formed. One team comprising Raja Tambat, Sanjay Parande, Vilas Shirke and Yashwant Bhide who were to nab Manya at Ambedkar College, Wadala, where Manya was supposed to pick up the stolen car (Fiat) from the police informer. PI Shivaji Sawant with his team, was supposed to lay a trap at the bank in Vashi, incase Manya slipped off the hands of the first team.
- On 11th January 1982, when the two teams were just about to roll off, PI Samson’s sight glanced on Sub-Inspector Isaque Bagwan who was busy on his work desk at the crime branch. Isaque was then a young man in his early 20’s. PI Samson decided to include Bagwan in his team which was to hit Ambedkar College, as Bagwan could delve in as a college boy.
- The teams were warned about Manya being heavily armed with a Mauser revolver, grenades, knives, acid bulbs and so on.
- Being dressed in civilian attire, the team reached early at Ambedkar College. While the rest of the team took position in the Hillman (car) parked at a distance Bagwan stepped out and rested on the bonnet of the car with a few books in his hand.
- Around 1.30 p.m., Manya arrived in a taxi. He sent a woman who was seated with him in the taxi to scout the area first. After her signal, he stepped out wearing a white shirt and trousers and started walking towards the Fiat. PI Bhide confirmed that it was Manya. As soon as he crossed Bagwan, Bagwan stepped forward and while keeping his revolver in his hand shouted out to Manya to surrender before the police. But Manya immediately reached for his pistol tucked at his waist, turned back and fired a few rounds towards Bagwan. The shots missed Bagwan but one of the bullets hit a bus conductor, from a BEST bus behind the Hillman. Bagwan was quick to react and took position and fired a couple of rounds back at Manya. Manya was hit and fell to the ground. Raja Tambat too fired at Manya from the Hillman.
- PI Samson and his team rushed out and caught hold of Manya, who was hurtling abuses, even as he was injured and bleeding.
- Manya and the bus conductor were rushed to the hospital but Manya was declared dead on arrival.
- Bagwan received his first Gallantry Medal by the President for this encounter.