Dhanbad: The release of Fahim Khan, infamously known as the “Don of Wasseypur,” has reignited fear and unease across the coal capital of Jharkhand. Following the Jharkhand High Court’s order, the 75-year-old gangster — who spent over 22 years behind bars — has been freed on humanitarian grounds due to ill health. While his family celebrates, the people of Dhanbad and Wasseypur fear a possible return to the dark, violent past that once defined the region.
For decades, Wasseypur was synonymous with gang wars, bloodshed, and revenge killings. The railway line connecting Dhanbad to Gaya had become an infamous dividing line — a “border of death” — between the rival factions of Fahim Khan and Shabbir Khan. Crossing it meant certain death. This railway stretch, running through Wasseypur, became the symbolic frontier of their deadly turf war, where dozens of murders took place during the late 1980s and 1990s.
In 1989, Fahim Khan’s younger brother, Chhote Khan, was murdered near this same railway line — an incident that intensified the gang rivalry. Locals still recall those terrifying days when passengers traveling from Dhanbad to Gaya would shut train windows while passing through Wasseypur, fearing stray bullets. It was an era when gunfire could erupt without warning.
Today, as the ailing don returns home, memories of that violent past have resurfaced. Residents fear that his release could disturb the fragile peace that Dhanbad has enjoyed in recent years. Fahim Khan faces multiple serious charges — including murder, extortion, kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy. Despite his old age, his name still evokes both fear and fascination in Wasseypur.
However, Fahim’s son Iqbal Khan has appealed for calm. Speaking to the media, he said, “We always had faith in the judiciary, and justice has finally been done. We thank Dhanbad Police for maintaining law and order. I also urge the youth — don’t choose the path of crime. It only leads to loss and destruction. Our family has already paid a heavy price, and we want to return fully to the mainstream.”
Intellectuals and social observers in Dhanbad believe that while the administration’s vigilance and police crackdown on organized crime have improved law and order in recent years, Fahim Khan’s release poses a real test for peace in Wasseypur. The coming days will show whether the city can truly leave behind its violent legacy — or if the shadows of its past will return once again.
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