Saturday, April 15 2006 16:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Superintendent of central prison today (Apr 15, 2006) filed an application in a TADA court opposing the extradited gangster Abu Salem's plea to remove him from an isolated high security egg-shaped prison cell and keep him in a barrack along with the accused in the 1993 bomb blast case.

The jailor submitted a report to designated TADA judge saying there was threat to life of Salem from rival gangsters lodged in the prison.

"Keeping him in the company of other accused would jeopardise Salem's life," he said.

The designated judge has posted Salem's plea for hearing on April 21.

Salem had filed a petition saying he was feeling lonely in the egg-shaped high security cell and needed a companion with whom he could interact.

Exactly a month ago, Salem had sought permission to allow co-accused Mansoor Ahmed to be by his side in the egg-shaped high security cell since both of them belong to the same village in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh.

However, the court asked jailor to file a reply and the matter is still pending. Salem has now changed his mind on Mansoor's company and pleaded that he may be accommodated with other accused in the barrack.

Salem was lodged in 'anda' cell on his own request that he feared threat to his life from rival gangsters lodged in the same prison. However, he has not been able to cope up with life inside the cell, his lawyer Ashok Sarogi said.