The Navi Mumbai crime branch is on the lookout for a close aide of Devendra Baburao Jagtap alias JD, who fired at Abu Salem on Thursday. The police suspects that Jagtap’s aide, Manoj Lahamane, must have helped him sneak the weapon into jail.
The police has launched a manhunt for Lahamane, with two teams of policemen currently on his trail. According to the police, Lahamane met Jagtap every time he was produced in the Mumbai sessions court, and it was possible that he handed over the weapon to him during one of these meetings. “Lahamane is a confirmed associate of the Bharat Nepali gang. Jagtap too is part of the same outfit. They met in court every time Jagtap was produced there,” said a senior officer.
However, during the initial interrogation, Jagtap told the police that he had planned the attack on Salem around five months ago and that is when he procured the weapon. The police had rubbished this claim.
“We will verify this and can’t direct the investigation based on such claims made by the accused. We need his custody for a sustained interrogation. Since he is an undertrial, we need court’s permission to arrest him. We will submit an application on Saturday,” said DCP Sanjaysingh Yenpure.
Investigators strongly believe that the weapon was smuggled in on Thursday evening itself, when Jagtap was brought back from the Mumbai sessions court. The police has seized the weapon, a country made 7.62 mm pistol with a cassette-type magazine that can hold around five rounds.
“On Thursday, when he returned to the prison from court, Jagtap was supposed to take a left from the main gate security, but took a right and headed to the high security area where Salem’s anda cell is located. The guard did not accompany him from the gate to his cell. He then saw Salem and opened fire at a distance of 10 to 12 feet. A constable then caught and restrained him,” added Mr Yenpure. Salem was reportedly relaxing in the cell and covered his face with his right arm when he saw Jagtap whip out the pistol.