Indian
Mujahideen (IM) operative Mohammad
Qateel Siddiqui, accused of executing terror attacks in Bangalore and
Delhi and involved in the attempt
to blow up Pune's Dagadusheth Ganapati
temple, was strangled to death by
two other prisoners in a high-security
cell of Pune's Yerawada central
jail on June 8, 2012, reports The
Times of India. Siddiqui was
in custody of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism
Squad (ATS) since May 3, 2012. He
was handed over by Delhi Police,
who arrested him on November 22,
2011. The terrorist was believed
to be a close associate of Yasin
Bhatkal, the main suspect in a string
of terror attacks.
Prison
Superintendent S.V. Khatavkar, who
was later suspended by the Maharashtra
government for the security lapse,
said that Siddiqui was found dead
in his 10 ftx10 ft cubicle in the
'anda' cell of Yerawada. "We
later learned that gangster Sharad
Mohol and his aide Alok Bhalerao,
who were also lodged in the anda
cell, had strangled Siddiqui to
death with a drawstring from a pair
of shorts around 9.45am," he
said.
Further,
the Maharashtra government has now
asked prison authorities to separate
terror accused from other high-profile
criminals, according to Hindustan
Times. The directive was issued
soon after Siddiqui’s murder came
to light, said Police sources. The
directive is significant considering
Arthur Road, Yerawada and Nagpur
central jails hold high value criminals
including Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani
national convicted for his role
in the 26/11 terrorist attacks.
Apart
from him, the state is particularly
concerned about the key IM operatives
arrested in the 13/7 Mumbai serial
blasts which includes Haroon Rashid
Abdul Hamid Naik, Naquee Ahmed,
Nadeem Sheikh and Kanwar Nain Wazirchand
Pathrija. All the four accused are
currently in Arthur Road jail in
Mumbai which also houses key Chhota
Rajan henchmen facing trial in various
cases. |
