Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, one of the main accused in the 2008 Malegaon Serial bomb blast case, nowallegedly fears for her life, while being lodged at the Byculla prison. Her alleged tormenters are none other than African nationals who are arrested for peddling drugs in the city. Singh has been lodged at the Byculla prison, after her arrest in 2008 by the Anti Terrorism Squad. She has been kept in a separate cell and normally keeps to herself and doesn't interact with other inmates. A

Advocate Ganesh Sovani, who represents Singh, said “It was during her brother-in-law’s visit to the prison, when she informed us about the incident of manhandling of her cellmate, Rita Jaiswal, by these women. Thus we want to put forth our contention before the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), court and ensure that no untoward incident will happen to her.” Sovani said that according to Singh, the inmates had on October 27, created huge problem for her and cell mate, Jaiswal.

The undertrials had gheraoed them, misbehaved with them and also manhandled Jaiswal. The offenders repeatedly abused, heckled, intimated and provoked them. Further he said that when the matter was reported to the jail authorities, even they could not overpower these African female inmates due to their strong physique. If the jail authorities send police personnel then these African female undertrials try to undress themselves and starts shouting. Sovani also added that he has been told by Singh, through his brother-in-law that these African female undertrials have sworn by to make her life miserable so much so that she would seek her transfer from this prison. Singh will be moving the special court on Friday, in which she will be praying for a report from the Superintendent of Byculla District Jail, about the incident which took place with her. Further she would plead to the court to direct the prison officials to provide safety and security to her.