MUMBAI: A Bharat Nepali gang member, Devendra Jagtap, alias JD, fired a round on extradited gangster Abu Salem on the Taloja Jail premises late on Thursday. Salem received the hit on the arm and was taken to hospital. The Kharghar police are probing how Jagtap managed to get hold of the firearm (which the police have seized) inside the jail.
Sources said Salem was recently shifted from the highly guarded anda cell to the general barracks. The incident took place around 7pm. “Jagtap pulled out a revolver and fired on Salem after a heated argument. It seems to be a supari case. Salem is stable,” said a police source.
India’s most-wanted man, Dawood Ibrahim, has claimed responsibility for the attack. His lieutenant Chhota Shakeel said so in an exclusive phone conversation with TOI.
Jagtap is an accused in the killing of Chhota Rajan’s key man Farid Tanasha in Chembur in 2010. Originally from Mulund, Jagtap is involved in at least half a dozen cases. He joined the underworld with the Chhota Rajan gang, but shifted loyalties to the Nepali gang.
“Salem’s statement is being recorded; Jagtap has been taken into custody by the Khargar police for attempt to murder. We are yet to reach a conclusion on what sparked the fight,” said an officer.
Salem was transferred from Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail to Taloja in July 2010 after he fought with 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Mustafa Dossa, who is considered to be an unchallenged don in jails. Dosa had beaten up Salem and his cronies.
