German Bakery blast accused Himayat Baig alleges threat to life in prison

Pune: German Bakery blast convict, Himayat Baig, alleged threat to his life and said he had been attacked in Yerwada prison in Pune. Baig's father, accompanied by members of a Muslim rights group, Mulnivasi Muslim Manch, had submitted a letter to the authorities at Yerwada police station on Sunday on behalf of Baig, requesting that he be immediately shifted out of the Yerwada prison. President of Mulnivasi Muslim Manch, Anjum Inamdar, said Baig feared that he may be murdered like Indian Mujahideen operative, Qateel Siddiqui, who was found murdered in his cell in June 2012.

"Yesterday Himayat Baig sent a letter from the prison stating that he was attacked in the prison on February 19 and some goons lodged in the under cell tried to kill him. The letter said, "when they were beating me up they were shouting slogans hailing Bhawani and Shivaji and I am very scared. I could be killed here like Qateel Siddiqui and hence I should immediately be shifted out of this prison,"" said Inamdar.

Baig was brought to Yerwada prison, from Arthur Road prison, last year in December after the prison superintendent of Arthur Road claimed that the prison was overcrowded and hence posed a threat to Baig's security.

Inspector, Yerwada Police Station, Vilas Sonde, said though no such attack had come to the knowledge of the authorities, nevertheless, an investigation will be conducted.

" Himayat Baig's relatives came here and said that he was attacked, we will investigate the matter. We don't think there have been any attacks on him as there are no injury marks on him and he also hasn't identified the attackers, but still we will investigate," said Sonde.

Baig was arrested in Pune on September 7, 2010. He was arrested after the investigators found 1,200 kg of explosives from his home in Udgir in Latur district. Others who have been named in the case are Mohsin Choudhary, Yasin Bhatkal, Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal Bhatkal and Faiyaz Kagzi. The Pune blast was seen as the first major terrorist attack in India since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The bakery is located in Koregaon Park, which is close to the Osho Ashram and the Chabad House, a Jewish prayer house, frequented by numerous foreigners and tourists.