Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV/MD)
Updated
Mangaluru, Nov 2: A major clash erupted in the Mangaluru jail premises on the morning of Monday November 2, resulting in the deaths of two murder convicts and injuries to inmates and the jail superintendent.
Madoor Isubu and Ganesh Shetty
Madoor Isubu, a notorious man with underworld links, and another undertrial identified as Ganesh Shetty, an associate of Madoor Isubu, died in the clash.
Twelve jail inmates were injured and admitted to Wenlock hospital. Some of them have been identified as Pradeep Vamanjoor, Umesh Kombar, Yuvraj Soorinje, Shobharaj, Nitesh, Iqbal and Asif.
The clash erupted between two groups, however, the reason is yet to be confirmed. Sources said that the clash took place when the inmates had assembled for breakfast. It is learnt that the murders were committed with weapons.
Following the incident, high security has been deployed in jail and its premises. Police commissioner, DCPs and other police officers are at the spot.
Speaking to reporters, police commissioner S Murugan said, "It was a fight between two gangs and not a communal issue. One gang killed Madoor Isubu and his associate Ganesh Shetty who were in the other gang. The fight took place during breakfast."
Regarding entry of weapons in the jail premises, he said that they might have been thrown over the wall of the jail from outside by some accomplice of the undertrials.
Asked about the identity of the gangs, he declined to comment saying it was part of the investigation.
"We have picked up some suspects after ascertaining from other inmates and jail staff present during the incident and will arrest after interrogating them," Murugan said after visiting the jail for spot inspection.
"Though the murders took place inside the jail, the case falls within our jurisdiction as the prison is located in the city limits. We are also searching for weapons used in the crime," the top police official added.
Isubu had been arrested in 2010 by the Interpol in Riyadh and brought to Mangaluru. He had been since lodged in the jail here. He was wanted in the murders of Sukhananda Shetty, the then emerging BJP leader and Candle Santhu, and a number of other criminal cases. Isubu was still an undertrial, as he appealed against his conviction.
Ganesh Shetty, a sharpshooter, had been arrested in 2010 for the murder of Mahendra Pratap in 1994 in Mumbai.
Though Shetty was convicted in Mumbai, he was shifted to the district jail as he hails from here. He was also suspected to be an aide of Mumbai gangster Chhota Shakeel.
Official sources said that for the last three days skirmishes had been taking places in the jail between the inmates.