Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai)

Abu Salem writes to Portuguese authoritie­s, day after their visit

- HT Correspond­ent

MUMBAI : A day after the visit of Portuguese authoritie­s to Taloja jail, gangster Abu Salem wrote another letter to Portuguese authoritie­s complainin­g about the lack of basic facilities, and threat to his life from Indian investigat­ion agencies.

Salem, who was extradited from Lisbon in Portugal in 2003, has been complainin­g that the clauses mentioned in the extraditio­n treaty were flouted. Two officials from the Portuguese embassy in Delhi, along with members of the Central Bureau of Investigat­ion (CBI), visited the jail to check its overall condition and the facilities given to the convicted gangster.

In the 18-page letter, Salem claimed the jail authoritie­s did not allow the officers from Portugal to visit his cell or meet him separately. Salem also described the way in which he is kept in jail and complained about lack of facilities, alleging he is suffering from ailments owing to it. The gangster has claimed he has been kept in solitary confinemen­t and the cell had no basic facilities.

In the latter part of his letter, Salem claimed he feared the central agencies would kill him. “I call my lawyer every day for ‘mulakat’, to check whether the Indian authoritie­s have kept me alive or killed me,” Salem claimed.

He claimed that “the main plan of the Indian authoritie­s is to keep me confined in such a condition for 25 years to frustrate me. So I will lose my senses and become mad or kill myself”.

He has requested the authoritie­s to rescue him and keep him in the custody of Portugal embassy in Delhi or in a jail in Uttar Pradesh, till a decision is taken.

 ?? FILE ?? The authoritie­s after meeting Salem (inset).
FILE The authoritie­s after meeting Salem (inset).

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