After SC verdict, security stepped up in Nagpur

While a fresh 3,000-page mercy petition from Yakub Memon has put the date of his execution in some doubt, officials told HT on Tuesday that there was also debate over where he should be hanged — Nagpur jail or Pune’s Yerawada jail.

While a fresh 3,000-page mercy petition from Yakub Memon has put the date of his execution in some doubt, officials told HT on Tuesday that there was also debate over where he should be hanged — Nagpur jail or Pune’s Yerawada jail.

Some said Memon should be shifted to Pune for the execution as Nagpur is the home down of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis (the prison is located in his assembly constituency, Nagpur south-west) and that hanging Memon there could sent the wrong signal.

State government officials, including Fadnavis, said on Tuesday that Yakub Memon will be hanged on July 30 following the Supreme Court’s rejection of his curative petition. According to the state, Memon may be hanged on July 30 — his 53rd birthday — at the Nagpur Central Jail.

Meanwhile, security was tightened at Nagpur jail immediately after the Supreme Court rejected Memon’s curative petition on Tuesday. In the evening, Nagpur police officers met jail officials at the prison to take stock of the situation and ensure tight security in the jail and its surrounding areas. All vehicles were barred from the premises and several police were deployed in the area. According to reports, more policemen will be brought in from neighbouring districts.

The militants were dressed as cops and travelled in a white Ambassador with a red beacon to pass the barricade, but were halted by policemen. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s security cover was raised to Z+ a few weeks ago.