Deadly brawl in prison van leaves 2 Tihar inmates dead, 7 injured

The incident took place near Pitampura in North-West Delhi in a moving van ferrying nine inmates from Rohini court to Tihar.

The police said the inmates belonged to Delhi’s two top gangs — Neetu Dabodha gang and Neeraj Bawana gang. A sharp-shooter of Neetu Dabodha gang Paras, alias Goldi, and his associate Pradeep, alias Bhola, both in their early 30’s, were killed in the fight. 

The injured inmates are being treated at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital in Pitampura, the police added. A case under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC has been registered at the Mongolpuri police station. 

The police are also probing the roles of the three other inmates-Dinesh, Sonu and Sunil — who were present in the van. Neeraj Bawana, who leads the notorious gang, was reportedly present in the van when the incident took place and was injured in the <g data-gr-id="31">clash</g> and has been admitted to <g data-gr-id="33">hospital</g>. 

According to sources, his family members had reached the hospital but were not allowed to meet him.

A police van is divided into several compartments, each separated by locked doors. The gang members were being ferried in the second compartment. On being asked about the inaction of the guards present inside the van, Vikramjit Singh, DCP, Outer, said: “We are investigating the incident and are trying to find out why the guards present took no action on seeing the inmates engaged in a brawl.” 

Another pertinent question that arises at this point is that why members of two rival gangs were being ferried in the same van. On being asked this, Singh said this decision is taken by prison authorities and added: “We will investigate all possible angles and try to find out why two gang members were kept in the same compartment of the van”. However, according to a high-placed source, the accused inmates who killed the duo injured themselves in order to make the incident appear as a retaliation to the provocation from the other side.

The injured criminals, who are being treated, will be arrested and further action will be taken against them, said DCP Vikramjit Singh.

It is quite ironical that the Tihar jail, home to around 14,000 prisoners and considered to be the 

largest in Asia, also regarded as the epitome of crime correction, has become a haven for gang lords. It has become quite easy for them to operate from the jail premises, expand their networks and eliminate enemies.