Dawood man attacks Salem in Mumbai jail

Extradited gangster Abu Salem was today injured in an attack allegedly by his fellow inmate, a member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang, inside the high security Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, police said.

Gangster Abu Salem was allegedly attacked by his rival and Dawood Ibrahim aide Mohammed Dossa inside Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail on Saturday morning.

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The attack has raised concerns about the safety of high-risk prisoners including 26/11 Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab.

Both Salem and Dossa are being tried for their alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

“Inmates are allowed to stroll in the open area inside the jail after breakfast. The incident happened during that time,” said a jailor, on condition of anonymity. The two rival gangsters had a heated exchange and Dossa, who has been booked for assault, reportedly slashed Salem’s face with a spoon.

“The attack seems to have happened due to previous enmity,” said Additional Commissioner Deven Bharti of the crime branch.

Jail sources said Salem and Dossa had been having a war of words since a few days after Dossa allegedly told Salem that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was going to fix him soon. Salem had quit the Dawood gang after the 1993 blasts and been running his own operations.

With inputs from PTI