Four Taloja prison officials suspended

A day after the attack on don Abu Salem in Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai, the state government ordered a high-level probe and suspended four policemen yesterday.

Hard talk: A day after the attack on don Abu Salem (below) in Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai, Home Minister RR Patil ordered a high-level probe by Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Meeran Borwankar

Taking serious cognisance of the incident, Home Minister R R Patil ordered a high-level probe by Additional Director General (Prisons) of Police Meeran Borwankar. "Police or jail officials responsible for the lapse would face stern action after the inquiry report is received," Patil said after discussing the matter with top officials of his ministry.

The inquiry would, among other things, probe the motive behind the attack, how the weapon came into the possession of the attacker and those found guilty could face dismissal from service, he added.

"The motive behind the attack, how the weapon reached inside the jail and other related issues are being investigated," Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner A K Sharma said.

Earlier, jail authorities swung into action and suspended a jailor and three jail police personnel for lapses and dereliction of duty, based on a preliminary probe, Borwankar said.

Jailor Sanjay Sabale and constables Nitin Sawant, Chandu Pathare and Ginesh Randive were on duty at the gate of the high-security prison when fellow inmate Devendra Jagtap shot at Salem twice.

He was wounded in his right arm. The weapon was a crude country-made revolver. Salem is an accused in several cases, including the March 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.u00a0