Gang war in prison van: Blame game begins, probe ordered

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Officers of 3rd Battalion claimed Tihar authorities did not communicate to them the nicknames of three undertrial prisoners, including Goldy, in the last three “production programmes” received by them in June. Production programmes are sent to the police before inmates are transported to and from courts for hearings. Tihar authorities refuted the allegations.

Sources said on July 26, Assistant Commissioner of Police Jai Prakash, posted with the 3rd Battalion, had written to Tihar authorities, asking them to provide the nicknames of undertrial prisoners in production programmes. “Such information is crucial for the police to ascertain the threat perception,” he said.

Tihar authorities, however, maintained that if the prisoners’ nicknames are mentioned in the warrant, which is sent to jail authorities when an accused is sent to judicial custody, then it is clearly specified in the production programmes. “If nicknames are not mentioned in warrants, no amendments can be done by the prison authorities on their own,” said Mukesh Prasad, DIG (Prisons), Tihar.

The production programmes received by the police on June 12 and June 18 had the names of undertrials like Amit Malik alias Bhura, Vikram alias Paras Goldy and Manoj alias Manoj Bakkarwala. However, their nicknames were not mentioned. “The 3rd Battalion depends on critical information sent by the jail authorities, especially to assess threat,” said S K Tewari, DCP, 3rd Battalion. “Although we followed protocol and our men are clean, we have still ordered the departmental inquiry,” he said.

He said 13 guards, including the in-charge, were present in the van, but none intervened. He said in the initial minutes of violence breaking out, policemen issue orders to the prisoners verbally. “If the need arises to intervene, then the whole area is cordoned off first,” he said.
In the present case, Tewari said, “Until and unless the number of guards are double the number of prisoners, we don’t intervene as this could also be a trap.”

Neeraj Bawana seeks security

New Delhi: Gangster Neeraj Bawana on Wednesday moved court, seeking security for himself saying he apprehended threat to his life. Bawana and six others on Tuesday allegedly assaulted and killed two members of a rival gang in a jail van. Bawana, who is lodged in Tihar jail in connection with several cases, said in his plea that his rivals might try to eliminate him during transportation, production in courts and inside the prison. ENS