2 more jail officials suspended

The Yerawada Central Jail administration, yesterday, suspended two more officials, police constable Shantaram Yeshwant Shirkar and jail guard Ramesh Gaikwad, for showing negligence towards duty that led to the murder of suspected terrorist Qateel Mohammad Zakir Siddiqui.

Arrested: Murder accused Sharad Mohol and Alok Bhalerao (veiled) at Sassoon yesterday for a medical test

Siddiqui was allegedly strangulated to death by two local gangsters Sharad Mohol and Alok Bhalerao on Friday at 9.45 am inside the jail. Superintendent of police (prison) S V Khatavkar was earlier suspended by the jail administration, on the very day of the murder.

Inside info
"Both the personnel were given the responsibility of the anda cell where Siddiqui was lodged. However, when the incident took place, Shirkar had taken two inmates outside the jail as their relatives had come to meet them. Gaikwad too
was not available at the anda cell," said a source.

Director Inspector General (Prison) Ravindra Dhamane was unavailable for comment. The police also arrested Mohol and Bhalerao for their involvement in Siddiqui's murder and they were taken for a medical examination. The two had reportedly confessed to the crime soon after the murder.

"We arrested them on Monday evening after the court issued transfer orders of both the accused from the central
jail. We have done their medical examination at the Sassoon General Hospital on Monday evening and they will be produced before the court on Tuesday,' said Senior Police Inspector Kishor Jadhav of Yerawada police station.u00a0