Gangster Neeraj Bawana apprehends threat, seeks security

Jailed gangster Neeraj Bawana, who and six others allegedly assaulted and killed two members of a rival gang in a jail van yesterday, today moved a Delhi court seeking security for himself saying he apprehended threat to his life.

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 his transportation, production in courts and inside the prison complex.

He claimed that earlier too he had filed applications in this regard but the jail administration did not take the issue seriously, claiming this had resulted in the attack on him in the prison van yesterday when the inmates were being transported from Rohini district court to Tihar.
"The applicant has many enemies within and outside jail and he has serious apprehension that these enemies may attempt to kill him during his transportation/production before the courts/lodgement in jail.

"Earlier, the applicant had escaped an attempt to kill him in Panipat when an unidentified person fired at him during his production in court," the plea, filed through advocate M S Khan, said.

The plea further said that he had filed "applications on earlier two occasions but jail administration and the DCP, 3rd Batallion, DAP, did not take the complaint/apprehension of the applicant seriously and filed a concocted report before the court. The non-action on their part led to the attack on the applicant during transportation from court yesterday."

The court sought the response of jail authorities on the plea and fixed the matter for August 31.

"It is, therefore, most respectfully and in the interest of justice prayed that directions may kindly be issued to the jail superintendent and DCP, 3rd batallion, DAP, to provide extra security to the applicant during transportation/court production/lodgement in jail to avoid any untoward incident and to ensure safety and security of accused," the plea said.

Two prisoners were beaten to death yesterday allegedly by Bawana and his six associates inside a moving prison van transporting nine inmates from court to Tihar Jail. Two inmates, Paras Goldy (30) and Pradip Bhola (32), who were attacked, were declared brought dead by the doctors.

A murder case has been lodged at Mongolpuri police station here.

According to the police, Paras and Pradip were members of the gang of slain gangster Neetu Dabodia, who was earlier killed in a police encounter in south Delhi.