The very mention of the don evokes an image of fear, the image of a gun-totting gangster always indulging in acts of crime. However, it’s not the men who become dons alone… there are a number of women who have become larger than life mafia figures and dons. Orissa POST takes a look at them.
Santokben Jadeja: Known as the ‘Godmother’ was allegedly a criminal who later turned politician. Santokben was inducted into the world of crime after her husband who was working in a mill, was murdered. Rather than going to the police she decided to avenge the murder herself. She formed a group and allegedly killed all the 14 people involved in her husband’s murder. She later on came to be known as the mafia of Kathiawad. Later on Santokben, who was considered close to Gujarat leader Chimanbhai Patel, contested on a Janata Dal ticket and was an MLA from 1990 to 1995. She suffered a heart attack and breathed her last March 31, 2011 in Porbandar, Gujarat.
Rubina Siraj Syed: Known also as ‘Heroine’ for her ravishing looks and personality, Rubina gained notoriety by supplying arms, money and food to members of the Chhota Shakeel gang in jail. Later on, she took orders from Chhota Shakeel and carried out all the criminal activities on his behalf in Mumbai.
Seema Parihar: This Uttar Pradesh dacoit has repeatedly said that she has been inspired by the deeds of Phoolan Devi. Seema was kidnapped when she was only 13 years old. No one knows what happened to her after being kidnapped. But by the time she emerged she was already a notorious criminal with a full-fledged gang. She and her gang were responsible for many murders, kidnappings and robbery in Uttar Pradesh. However, then she joined the Samajwadi Party and started a new leaf in her life. She was also seen in the TV reality show ‘Bigg Boss’.
Jenabai Daruwali: Folklore has it that both Karim Lala and Haji Mastan used to call her Jenabi Apa (didi). Jenabai started off with rice smuggling, liquor business but then her tentacles spread far and wide. Both Karim Lala and Haji Mastan used to frequent her house at the Nagpada area of Mumbai. They depended on her advice.
Archana Balmukund Sharma: She started off as a member of the Babloo Srivastava gang which operated in … In fact Archana looked after the kidnappings and extortions carried out by the gang. Her whereabouts are currently unknown, but it has been said that she still conducts the criminal activities of her gang from abroad.
PNN/Agencies