280 inmates die in MP jails

Bhopal, Aug 1 (UNI) Two hundred and eighty inmates died in prisons of Madhya Pradesh due to various causes in the last three and a half years, state government informed the Assembly today.

In a written reply to Mr Satyadev Katare (Cong), Jails Minister Antar Singh Arya said, ''the deaths took place between January 1, 2004 and June 30, 2007.'' Responding to Mr Ramniwas Rawat (Cong), the Minister said construction of 359 new barracks in the next four years was sanctioned in view of overcrowding in the prisons.

Energy Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said anomalies were detected in coal supply to the Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company's Sarni-based Thermal Power Station during 2004-05 and 2005-06.

''Chargesheets were filed against 11 officials, five of whom are till in service,'' he added.

UNI