Gang war again in Arthur Road jail

A murder accused was injured when a gang-war erupted inside the high-security Arthur Road Central Jail on Saturday, for the second time in two months.

At around 11.45am, Mehandi Hassan, 46, said to be a close aide of mafia don Abu Salem, was brutally attacked with a sharp weapon and punched in the face and eyes allegedly by two members of the Pandavputra gang inside the jail premises.

Hassan, who worked as a driver for Salem, sustained injuries in his eyes, chest, and right arm, and has been admitted to JJ Hospital, said the NM Joshi Marg police. Hassan was a co-accused in the murder of builder Pradeep Jain and had been nabbed five years ago.

Hassan, who was lodged in room no 2, circle 10, on the ground floor of the jail, was being brought out of his room by the jail guards, who were taking to him JJ hospital for a skin disease treatment.

As he was passing through the kitchen located near circle 10, two inmates, Pratap Pande and Abhay Shelar, belonging to the Pandavputra gang pounced on him, and attacked him brutally.    

Even as they abused him, one of them assaulted him with a sharp-edged weapon. Hassan, while trying to defend himself, sustained injuries. The jail guards then intervened and rescued Hassan. After he was attended to and administered first aid by doctors in the jail premises, he was shifted to the JJ Hospital around 12.30 pm.

This is the second instance of gang war in the past two months inside the city’s highly fortified jail. Last July 24, Salem had been attacked by Mustafa Dossa and sustained injuries on the face. Salem, extradited from Portugal in 2005, is lodged in the same jail in connection with the March 1993 Mumbai serial blast case.
Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab sentenced to death is also lodged in the same prison. Police have registered a case and further enquiries are on in the matter.