Bawana complains of ‘worse than an animal’ treatment in jail

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) Jailed gangster Neeraj Bawana told a court here on Wednesday that he is being treated "worse than an animal" in Tihar jail.

The plea was filed before Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Pandit, who has sought a reply from Tihar Jail officials and listed the matter for August 11.

"The applicant (Bawana) and other inmates are being treated worse than an animal by the jail authorities," said the application filed by Bawana's defence counsel M.S. Khan and sought the court's direction on the condition.

Bawana said that he and other inmates have proceeded on a hunger strike since Monday.

The application claimed the Bawana, who is lodged in the high-risk ward of the jail, was once locked inside a stinking cell for 24 hours, without any reason.

He also said that he has been deprived of fresh water, proper food and medicine.

"It appears the jail authorities want that he becomes ill or gets into depression," the plea said.

Bawana, former Delhi legislator Rambeer Shokeen, Pankaj Sehrawat, Sunil Rathi, Rahul Dabas, Naveen Dabas alias Bali, Naveen Hooda alias Bhanja, Amit Malik alias Bhura and Gurpreet Singh and Deepak Dabas alias Deepa are facing trial under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for allegedly running an organised crime syndicate.

Police said in its chargesheet that all the accused were running a crime syndicate which has been committing extortion and murders, apart from land grabbing and settling property disputes, all aimed at pecuniary benefits.

Police has described Bawana as "a symbol of lawlessness" and "kingpin" of the racket while Shokeen as the "political face" of the syndicate.

Shokeen was found using the clout of these criminals to contest MLA election to "further his political ambitions and gaining pecuniary benefits", police alleged.

On September 8, another Delhi court awarded seven years in jail to gangster Neeraj Bawana for illegal possession of firearms but had acquitted him of attempt to murder and obstructing and assaulting a public servant and deterring him while discharging his duty.