Salem, Dossa shifted due to security reasons: Maharashtra

Maharashtra on Monday told the Bombay high court that gangsters Abu Salem and Mustafa Dossa alias Majnu were shifted out of Arthur Road jail in July due to security reasons.

The court was hearing a petition by Salem seeking judicial inquiry into his assault and transfer on July 24 to Taloja central jail, Khargar. Salem stated that the assault was a “pre-meditated move” by the jail authorities who conspired with Dossa to eliminate him.

An affidavit filed by Rajendra Dhamne, superintendent of police, stated that the decision was taken by deputy inspector general, Prisons, as courts were closed over the weekend. Dossa was shifted to Thane central jail.

Dhamne’s affidavit stated that Dossa was in circle 1 and Salem in circle 10. Dossa was shifted to undertake reconstruction of circle 1.

Other inmates from circle 1 were shifted too, it added. Dossa was moved to an empty cell in circle 10. Dhamne submitted that Salem had never complained of a threat to his life before. He said that the decision to transfer was correct and taken in view their security.

Salem’s petition stated that circle 10 is a high security area, guarded by Indo-Tibetan Border Police while security at Taloja jail is found wanting when compared to Arthur Road jail.