3 June 2024: Munna alias Mohammad Ali Khan alias Manoj Kumar Bhawarlal Gupta, a convict serving a life sentence for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, was fatally attacked by fellow inmates at Kalamba Central Jail, Kolhapur, on Sunday.
According to police reports, the 59-year-old was involved in an altercation with other inmates over the use of the bathroom. The dispute quickly escalated, resulting in a violent attack where the assailants struck Khan on the head with an iron cover from the drainage system. Despite being rushed to hospital, Khan was declared dead upon arrival.
The attackers, identified as Prateek alias Pilya Suresh Patil, Deepak Netaji Khot, Sandeep Shankar Chavan, Rituraj Vinayak Inamdar, and Saurabh Vikas, are now facing murder charges. Kolhapur Police have registered the case and announced that the suspects will be arrested soon.
The 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, which occurred on March 12, resulted in 257 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. Khan was one of the many convicted for their involvement in these devastating attacks, marking a significant chapter in India’s criminal history.
The series of explosions in Mumbai led to an extensive legal process, culminating in various high-profile arrests and convictions, including those of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and key conspirators like Yakub Memon and Abu Salem. The main trial concluded in 2007, with numerous convictions and sentences handed down.
This incident in Kolhapur underscores the continuing complexities and security challenges within India’s prison system, particularly involving high-profile convicts.
