Abu Salem fears gang rivals

Despite being under the impregnable security cover of the Central Bureau of Investigation, extradited gangster Abu Salem fears rival gangs and the attempt they might make to eliminate him, CBI sources said Monday.

Inter-gang rivalry is one thing Salem fears. This kept him on toes all these years, and made him flee from one country to another for fear of his life, sources said.

"Although he has not expressed any threat to his life, the aspect of inter-gang rivalry bogs him down at times," senior CBI officials told PTI.

It was for this reason that the office of the Special Task Force of the CBI probing the 1993 serial bomb blasts, is witnessing an unprecedented security cover of Mumbai police commandoes.

CBI officials are very secretive about Salem's movement in the city, particularly his visits to St George Hospital in south Mumbai, where Salem is taken every 48 hours for the mandatory medical check up.

Terming Salem as a 'very useful catch', CBI sources said that they do not wish to compromise on his security in any way " Salem's extradition is a signal to everyone that extradition of any big gangster is possible," CBI sources said.

Abu Salem's extradition: Complete coverage