'Lady don' of Hyderabad arrested

A woman history sheeter, who has evaded the law for the last four years, was arrested and sent in judicial custody, police said. The Malkajgiri police here executed a non-bailable warrant pending against her since 2004. A case was registered against Farah Fatima, also known as the `lady don' of Hyderabad, under IPC Section 309 (attempt to suicide) as she had attempted to commit suicide inside the police station after being picked up as part of investigation in a criminal case, police added. Farah has been sent to Chanchalguda jail here, Malkajgiri ACP R Ravinder Reddy said.

Who is LADY DON?
If you spot a woman zooming by on a motorbike, think twice before confronting her. For you never know, you may be talking to Farah Fatima-the lady Don of Hyderabad, who was recently arrested for threatening a businessman to pay extortion money.Leader of a gang of 22, she is known to be the queen of extortion and murder. A motorbike entry and a shower of expletives often herald her arrival. Says deputy police commissioner, Harish K Gupta, “She is a very aggressive woman and there are always a dozen guthka packets hidden in her dupatta or burkha. Hyderabad has not seen lady criminals of this type whose language and mannerisms even put us to shame.”

The businessman, whom Fatima threatened, went to the police and registered a complaint against her. Says Gupta, “She would go at night on her motorbike to the businessman’s house and ask him to pay money. In many such cases, the businessmen pay up and do not even complain.” Fatima is presently cooling her heels in judicial custody and the police are happy that they have some reprieve from her. Short in stature, Fatima has been booked as a rowdy sheeter since 1992. Her first husband, Mir Khaisar Ali, introduced her to the world of crime.

Interestingly, Fatima not only has a SSC certificate but also a nursing degree. “It is just greed for easy money that made her step into this business,” claim the police. Ali taught Fatima her tricks of extortion, land grabbing and “settling” of disputes. As the gang members grew in number so did the influence of Fatima. The police allege that Fatima killed Ali over a land dispute.In the early 1990s Fatima used to operate only in Cyberabad and near Maula Ali. But after the death of Ali, she shifted base to Old City. She also married one Sujjad Ali who helped her in the functioning of the gang. In the old city, Fatima was flooded with requests from a large number of landowners to help them evict tenants. This set up a flourishing business for her. But those who could not take it any more, sent anonymous petitions to the police commissioner’s office. These made the cops book a case against her in 1992. Later they also booked her under the Dangerous Activities Act. Now they are keeping a close tab on her activities before the Ganesha festival, so that the gang’s extortion activities can be contained during the time. (TOI)