Gangster says falsely implicated in prison van clash case

Jailed gangster Neeraj Bawana on Wednesday claimed before a Delhi court that he was falsely implicated in the prison van clash case and sought a "very high security cover" for himself citing a serious threat to his life.

In an application moved before a court here, Bawana's counsel M.S. Khan said his client had a serious threat to his life.

Advocate Khan said police had some enmity towards Bawana and falsely implicated him in the prison van clash case.

"Police have also threatened the applicant to cause his encounter during production outside Delhi and a news published... raises serious apprehension of being killed during transportation and production before the court," the application said.

The advocate sought the court's direction to provide security during Bawana's transportation and production in courts in Delhi and outside the city.

"The applicant (Bawana) has many enemies within and outside jail and he has serious apprehension that these enemies may attempt to kill him...," the plea said.

The court has listed the matter for October 6.

A similar plea was sent by the counsel to the Delhi Police commissioner.

Two undertrial inmates were killed and five suffered injuries in a clash between two rival gangs -- the Neetu Dabodha gang and the Neeraj Bawana gang -- while they were being taken back to Tihar jail from a city court on August 25.

Bawana claimed he had filed similar applications but the jail administration did not take the issue seriously and the clash was due to the irresponsible behaviour of the jail administration.

Bawana, who is lodged in Tihar jail in connection with many cases, claimed that he had escaped an attempt to kill him in Panipat when an unidentified person fired at him during his production in court.