Gang rivalry breaks out in jail van returning to Tihar from Rohini court, two prisoners killed

[related-post]

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the two men were eliminated by Bawana as he wanted to take revenge for the murder of his close associate, Ajay Kumar alias Sonu Pandit. Paras and Bhola had killed Pandit in Tatesar village in 2012.

“Bawana and his close associate Naveen Bali also feared that the duo were planning to kill Bali’s younger brother Kala inside the jail. So they killed them to save Rahul’s life. Last year too, Naveen — who was lodged in Faridabad jail — had hatched a conspiracy to kill Bhola inside the Rohini court complex,” a police officer said.

The nine men had been taken to Rohini court to attend the hearing in the Pradeep Dahiya murder case.

Describing the van attack, DCP Singh said, “There are four compartments in the van. The driver, jail van in-charge, along with police personnel were sitting in one of the compartments. The nine inmates were sitting in the second compartment. Nine more police personnel, posted with the 3rd Battalion of Delhi Police, were sitting in another compartment,” Singh said.

The fight broke out as soon as the van reached Madhuban Chowk. Bawana and his friends began beating Paras and Pradeep. Bawana then shoved Paras and Pradeep to the van’s floor and stomped on their heads. None of the guards allegedly intervened.

“When the van reached Madhuban Chowk in Mangolpuri, a heated argument broke out. Bawana and his associates launched a pre-planned attack on the two members of the rival gang,” said a senior police officer.

Singh admitted that the personnel sitting in the driver’s compartment had not reacted on time.

“The two were beaten up mercilessly and the in-charge of van then made a PCR call. Local police immediately reached Baba Mahavir hospital, where the driver took the bus. The two inmates were declared brought dead. Their bodies have been sent for an autopsy,” the officer said.

Police sources said that a few days ago, the advocates of the dead prisoners had moved an application before the city court, informing it that a rival gang was hatching a conspiracy to kill them. “We are questioning the police personnel who were present in the van and trying to ascertain the exact sequence of events. There is a strong possibility that action should be taken against them and the in-charge as they did not react immediately,” a senior police officer said.

The rivalry between Neeraj Bawana and Neetu Dabodia gangs has existed for many years. After Dabodia’s death in an encounter with Delhi Police special cell in 2012, Bawana has been trying to reign supreme in the capital’s crime world. However, the Special Cell arrested him in March this year. He has been in Tihar Jail since.

Several members of both gangs are behind bars and presently lodged in Tihar.