Abu Salem prefers jail to a hospital ward

Gangster Abu Salem, who is suffering from malaria for the last few days, refused to get admitted to the ward at JJ hospital that was originally built for 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Salem preferred to be treated at the jail itself and was taken back to Taloja in Navi Mumbai.

On Friday, Salem tested positive for plasmodium vivax strain of malaria at the hospital. He had been brought to the emergency ward and advised to get admitted to any one of the two jail wards – a 45-bedded ward, and another 10-bedded one allotted to house Kasab. Sources said that Salem insisted on being admitted only to a private room and refused to be taken to the 10-bedded ward.

Dean TP Lahane, confirmed the development. “Salem was taken back to Taloja Jail around 4pm after he refused to be treated in the jail ward. He has been advised oral anti-malarial medication as he is running a slight temperature, which can be treated with tablets. There is no need for injectible drugs.” Inspector general (prisons) Vinod Lokhande said Salem’s condition was normal and that he was recuperating in prison.

Salem was deported from Portugal and initially he was kept at Arthur road jail. In 2010, Dawood Ibrahim’s close add Mustafa Dossa attacked him with a sharp object in the prison after which he was shifted to Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai.