Security has been beefed up at Ghaghidih Central Jail following the shift of Wasseypur gangster and murder convict Fahim Khan from Ranchi prison on Monday evening.

Fahim (62) was brought to Ghaghidih as he was hatching murder and abduction plots from behind bars at Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi.

According to Ghaghidih jailer Satyendra Chowdhury, Fahim was first sent to Dhanbad Divisional Jail in May 2011 and was thereafter shifted to Hazaribagh jail, then Dumka and finally to Ranchi in February 2014.

"Fahim was made to relocate to Ranchi jail from Dumka as he was suffering from diabetes. But while undergoing treatment, he continued to plot murders and abduction for ransom from inside the jail. The administration ordered his transfer to a new place to thwart his activities," Chowdhury said.

Fahim is facing trial in 27 criminal cases, including murder and extortion, besides being convicted in the Mohammed Sagir murder case in Dhanbad.

Fahim, whose infamous rivalry with another mafia lord Sabir Alam had inspired Anurag Kashyap's gangster flick Gangs of Wasseypur, has been put in one of the 22 cells at Ghaghidih prison that already houses high-profile criminal Akhilesh Singh.

"We put the jail guards and other security officials on alert soon after Fahim was brought in here at 5pm on Monday. We don't want to take any chances," the jailer said.

Khan's nephew Gopi Khan was also shifted from Dhanbad jail to Ghaghidih five days ago.

Both Fahim and Gopi, along with other members of the gang lodged in different jails across the state, flex muscle from behind bars to influence the tender process for railway projects and also those of public sector companies.

"Like Fahim, Gopi was operating from inside Dhanbad jail. He has been put in a cell at Ghaghidih," Chowdhury said.

He added that the jail administration would have to keep round-the-clock tab on Fahim lest he tried to indulge in criminal activities here too.

At present, a total of 1,420 prisoners are lodged inside Ghaghidih jail that has the capacity to accommodate 1,447. But the security apparatus leaves a lot to be desired.

Against the sanctioned strength of 212 guards, only 76 are posted at the jail. The three jammers that had been installed for blocking phone signals are lying defunct.

City SP Chandan Jha said they would be on guard too. "We will work in close co-ordination with jail administration to ensure that no criminal activity is carried out in the jail where a convict like Fahim Khan is staying," Jha said.