Undertrials attack and abuse three cops in prison van

MUMBAI: Three undertrials, including a key accused in the Laila Khan murder case, assaulted and abused three police personnel in a moving prison van while they were

MUMBAI: Three undertrials, including a key accused in the Laila Khan murder case, assaulted and abused three police personnel in a moving prison van while they were driven back to Arthur Road jail from a sessions court on Friday. The Agripada police have registered a case against Madan Chavan, Mukesh Chavan, who are facing trial in a robbery case, and Parvez Takh.

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The policemen attached to the Locals Arms department were attacked when they tried to intervene in the fight between the Chavan brothers and Takh, an officer said.

“The accused belonged to rival gangs which led to the fight inside the van. As a constable tried to stop the fight, the Chavan brothers abused and assaulted him,” said an officer.

Seeing the constable being assaulted, two police sub-inspectors, Nitin Khairnar and Sandeep Pardesi, tried to calm the fighting undertrials. They were manhandled and sustained injuries on their hands from jagged, sharp corners inside the van. “Madan Chavan said he was not scared of anyone as he has thrown a shoe at a judge, and assaulting a policeman is a cakewalk for him,” added the officer.

After exhausting all options to end the brawl, the officers stopped the prison van and called aid to rein in the accused.

The personnel arrived at NM Joshi Marg police station to register a case. The case was transferred to Agripada police station after recording the statements of three attacked personnel.

The three accused have been booked under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.