Tihar killings: Two killed in gang war had dodged death once each in custody

New Delhi: Paras Goldy and Pradeep Bhola, both lead members of the Neetu Dabodia gang, had dodged death once each while in custody before meeting their fates in Tuesday’s gang war inside a moving prison van, the police said on Wednesday. Goldy and his associate Bhola were beaten to death on Tuesday allegedly by members of rival gang led by Neeraj Bawana while they were being transported from Rohini Court to Tihar Jail after hearings. According to the police, the enmity between Goldy and Bawana goes back to 2012, when Goldy’s mentor – Dabodia – was still alive. Goldy had allegedly shot dead one Ajay, who was a leading member of Bawana’s gang. [caption id=“attachment_2320630” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Tihar Jail. Reuters[/caption] After this incident, Bawana became obsessed about hunting down Goldy and allegedly deployed scores of assailants in the operation. In 2013, Goldy was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police for his involvement in several cases, including extortion and murder. When Goldy was lodged at Tihar jail, Bawana allegedly instructed an inmate, identified as Rahul Kale, to kill Goldy. However, Kale’s alleged attempt to execute the plan failed when security guards inside the jail premises were alerted, a police official said. During his stay in Tihar, Goldy was believed to have inducted Bhola into the Dabodia’s gang. By then, Dabodia was allegedly shot dead in a police encounter at south Delhi, said the official. In April, 2014, ten assailants managed to enter the premises of Rohini Court to kill Bhola. The one leading the team was dressed as a lawyer and carried a gun under case files in his hands, he added. However, the Special Cell of Delhi Police received a tip-off and laid a trap at the court premises. According to an official in Special Cell, the ten arrested persons turned out to be alleged members of Naveen Bali’s gang. Bali was then lodged at Faridabad jail and Kale, who allegedly tried to kill Goldy inside Tihar premises, was his cousin. Bali suspected that Bhola was conspiring with Goldy to kill Kale, he added. Goldy (30) and Bhola (32) - were allegedly beaten to death inside the prison van, in an attack led by Bawana, who was one of the inmates present in the vehicle, accompanied by his cousins Naveen Bhanja, Bali and Kale. The incident was reported around 4.30 PM. Nine prisoners were being escorted to the jail in the prison van by two police officials - an assistant sub-inspector and a constable (driver) - both posted at the Third Battalion of Delhi Police, said a senior police official. When the police officials escorting the vehicle saw the prisoners fight, they did not stop the van and sped towards Mangolpuri area. They finally stopped at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital, where Goldy and Bhola were declared dead on arrival. The accused men first beat up Goldy and Bhola. They then strangled the duo and hit their faces on the walls and floor of the prison van. When the duo collapsed, the accused men continued kicking them until the van stopped at the hospital. “A case of murder was registered at the Mangolpuri police station,” Sanjay Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police (North), had said. The police arrested all seven accused who were present in the prison van, under charges of murder. They were produced before a court on Wednesday. PTI