Crime Branch officials say 26/11 accused can't be tried at the prison because of the presence of several high-profile gangsters there
Crime Branch officials say 26/11 accused can't be tried at the prison because of the presence of several high-profile gangsters there
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BHAI LOG: (From left) Gangsters Abu Salem, Mustaffa Dossa and D K Rao could kill Qasab if he is tried at Arthur Road jail |
Crime Branch officials are concerned that teh lone survivng terrorist of the 26/11 terror attacks, Mohammed Ajmal Qasab, could be shot dead inside Arthur Road jail, if his trial takes place there. The presence of underworld don Abu Salem, Mustaffa Dossa, a member of the Dawood gang, and gangster Chhota Rajan's key lieutenants D K Rao and Vicky Malhotra in the jail makes it a likely possibility.
Salem is believed to have spent a long time in Pakistan before he broke away from his mentor, Dawood. Both Salem and Dossa enjoy clout among other prisoners in the jail. Chhota Rajan's men, on the other hand, consider themselves patriots, and have gunned down six Mumbai 1993 bomb blasts accused. Police sources say Pakistan could use its influence with the Dawood gang to kill Qasab to destroy vital evidence.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria confirmed that the government has short-listed three to four probable locations where Qasab can be tried. "Qasab could be shot dead, if the place is not safe. We are waiting for some forensic results to come in before we file the charge-sheet that will set the trial in motion," said Maria. Initially, the government was planning to hold Qasab at the Arthur Road jail and try him in the adjoining TADA court. Crime Branch officers, however, believe that it may be unsafe to lodge more than half a dozen high-profile prisoners in the same prison.
Crime Branch officials explained that it is not feasible to try Qasab outside Mumbai too because all forensic experts and witnesses are from the city. Qasab is presently being guarded 24x7 by a sub-inspector and two constables inside the cell. Two armed policemen are stationed outside the cell. With every change of guard, Qasab introduces himself with folded hands, "Main Qasab hoon."
| Identification parade |
Mohammed Ajmal Qasab was shifted to the Arthur Road Jail on December 27 for an identification parade.
"About 20 witnesses, who participated in the identification parade, identified Ajmal as the surviving terrorist of the 26/11 attacks," Crime Branch u00a0officials had said. |
