Gawli gang runs riot in Yerawada

PUNE, Jan 20: Eight members of the Arun Gawli gang went on rampage at the high security Yerawada Central Prison on Tuesday evening thrash...

PUNE, Jan 20: Eight members of the Arun Gawli gang went on rampage at the high security Yerawada Central Prison on Tuesday evening thrashing up five jail staffers.

They had been arrested in various crimes including murder and gang war, Angered by the stern refusal of jail officials to allow them a visit to the library on the jail campus without prior permission, the gangsters snatched the sticks from the sentries guarding their barrack and beat up three sentries and two jailers.

The situation was brought under control only after the sentries summoned from other barracks overpowered and disarmed the gangsters. The injured prison department staffers including jailers Ramchandra Narsingh Parade and Nitin Waychale and sentries Sadanand Raoji Mandvi, Appasaheb Kisan Bhagad and Yashvant Kalappa Wadar. They were shifted to Sassoon Hospital and discharged after first aid.

The incident came to light when Mandve approached sub inspector Rajesh Shingate at the nearby Jail Road police chowki and lodged a first information report FIR. The FIR named the eight gangsters as Babalu Munir Makwana, Sanjay Shridhar Kate, Eknath Arjun Mohite, Santosh Rambhau Salunke, Prakash Laxman Chavan, Rahul Uttam Bodke, Shamshad Samsher Balvar and Ramesh Phulchand Pawar.

Yerawada police said Makwana and Balvar, whose involvement is suspected in several cases of gang war, have been arrested in history-sheeter Ashraf Rampuri8217;s murder. Rampuri was shot dead at the crowded Race Course while the races were on three years ago. Bodke is a suspect in murder of history-sheeter Pradip Sonavane. Sonavane was gunned down at his residence in Pulachi Wadi, Deccan Gymkhana two years back. All the eight gangsters, who have been remanded to magisterial custody, were lodged at barrack number 2.

Mandvi said in his FIR that he had taken Bodke out of the barrack to visit the library around 5.15 p.m. on Tuesday after the undertrial said he wanted to change a book.

Mandvi and Bodke were walking towards the library when Waychale intercepted them at the gate of the intensive security unit. On finding that no senior officials had granted permission to allow Bodke to leave the barrack, Waychale asked Mandvi to take him back, the police said.

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Mandvi8217;s FIR alleged that the angry gangsters started abusing Waychale and charged him when the jailer accompanied them to the barrack. The sentry said the gangsters snatched his lathi and attacked him as well as Waychale when he tried to blow his whistle in a bid to summon help. Some of the gangsters are also alleged to have thrown their utensils.

Jailer Parade and sentries Bhagad and Wadar were attacked when they went to rescue Waychale and Mandvi, according to the FIR.