Amravati murder accused attacked by inmates in Arthur Road jail, seek transfer

Mumbai: Shahrukh Pathan alias Badshah, one of the accused in the murder of Amravati-based pharmacist Umesh Kolhe was "attacked" by five prisoners inside Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail. He was then shifted to another barrack in the same prison, police said.

The NM Joshi Marg police on Tuesday night registered a case of assault against five inmates in this regard.

In the wake of the incident, all seven accused including Pathan who was arrested in connection with the murder case have requested the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court to transfer them to some other prison.

The federal agency informed the court that they do not have any objection to transferring the accused to some other prison and even the prison authority suggested that the accused should be shifted to some other prison, as the Arthur Road jail was overcrowded.

The court has, however, called for a formal reply from the prison authorities to the plea of the accused and adjourned the hearing.

The police on July 3, arrested the mastermind and seventh accused in the brutal killing of Amravati-based shop owner Umesh Kolhe.

Six accused - Mudassir Ahmad (22), Shah Rukh Pathan (25), Abdul Thoufique (24), Shoaib Khan (22), Atib Rashid (22) and Yusufkan Bahadur Khan (44) - had been arrested earlier.

Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe, a 54-year-old chemist, was killed in Maharashtra's Amravati district on June 21.

The incident took place before the similar killing of a tailor in Udaipur. The Udaipur victim had reportedly shared a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma, a suspended BJP spokesperson who had made controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad.

Initial investigation by the City Kotwali Police Station in Amravati following a complaint by Umesh Kohle's son Sanket Kohle led them to arrest two persons - Muddsir Ahmad, 22, and Shahrukh Pathan, 25, on June 23.