Iqbal Kaskar firing: Mazgaon court guarded like a fortress

Following the firing incident in Dawood Ibrahim’s stronghold — Pakmodia Street — the Mazgaon court where the two arrested for the attack were taken for remand on Wednesday, was turned into a fortress by the police.

Sensing that Dawood aides could retaliate, a bomb disposal squad had sanitised the entire court premises before the shooters were brought in.

Two platoons of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and 50 additional policemen from the local police station armed with automatic weapons were guarding the court premises and were stationed at all the entry and exit points. One Marksman vehicle and a Combat vehicle were also stationed inside the court premises. The police presence was also heavy outside the second-floor courtroom.

“We had specific instructions that the court has to be guarded properly and there should be no security lapse. A bomb detection and disposal squad had sanitised the entire court premises before the shooters were produced,” said a police officer who was a part of the security duty at the court.

At around 12.15pm, Indra Khatri, who was wearing a golden and black striped shirt and blue jeans, and Sayed Bilal, who was wearing a black check-shirt and rugged blue jeans, were brought by the police escort team to the court. The court later remanded them in police custody till May 24.

“The police sought custody of the duo to investigate the gang involved behind the incident and whether the incident was part of a gang war. Accoring to the police, four persons were involved in the crime. The other two are yet to be traced,” said public prosecutor Satish Patil.