Gangster's escape bid throws cops into tizzy

KOLKATA: Sadique Zafar alias Gudda, one of the most notorious gangsters of the city, has become a major security concern for jail guards at the Dum Dum Central Correctional Home. One of the most wanted men of Kolkata, Sadique Zafar alias Gudda, has become a major security concern for jail guards at the Dum Dum Central Correctional Home and the state police.
While earlier police seized an improvised gun and cartridges from him at the Alipore Central jail after which he was shifted to the Dum Dum jail, on March 29 Gudda allegedly got into a fight with his guards inside the prison van at the seven-point crossing in Park Circus. Police claimed it was part of an elaborate plan to escape from prison. Following the incident, the state home department has asked police to step up his security and keep a watch on his movements during court productions.
According to officers after the March incident where an improvised gun and five rounds of live cartridges was recovered from him at the Alipore Central jail after which he was shifted to the Dum Dum jail, Gudda allegedly got into a fist fight with his guards inside a prison van. Cops claimed it was part of an elaborate plan to try and escape from prison. The incident took place at the Park Circus seven points crossing on March 29 prompting the state home department to ask cops to increase security in his prison cell and keep a hawk's watch on his movements during court productions.
Police said that on March 29 the prison van was waiting at the signal in Park Circus when Gudda lunged at his guards who were accompanying him to the Alipore court for a scheduled production. Even as the scuffle continued between Gudda and the policemen, who had kept the firearms at the holster,
the driver of the vehicle surged forward, claimed sources, fearing that Gudda's accomplices were close by to help the gangster in his breakaway attempt. and they may help in his breakaway attempt.
Sources in the police said that they were planning to keep him confined to only a few areas within the jail. Tightening his security - which includes employing more security personnel and providing them with arms - was also in the offing.
Henceforth, extra security detailing - including employing extra security personnel and providing them with arms - are in likelihood to take place.
Gudda, a central Kolkata don who took to crime in the bylanes of Bowbazar, had been charged with dozens of cases of murder, extortion and kidnapping. Weeks after his release on bail in September, 2010, he was arrested from the Park Street area for his involvement in a series of abductions. Not to mellow down even while in jail, Gudda made extortion calls from his phone following which a trader from Entally lodged a complaint against him in June, 2011, for alleged extortion calls
. Police said that armed dacoity, abductions and murders in Amherst Street, Narkeldanga and Bowbazar were his forte.
After his release in 2010, he was desperately trying to regroup with his old gang members but managed to get only three of them. CID said that at least in three operations, he led the gang in abducting traders from somewhat crowded places of Kolkata before being nabbed once again.