280 inmates died in MP jails

Bhopal, Aug 1 (UNI) Over three-and-a-half years, 280 inmates died in Madhya Pradesh's prisons due to various causes, the 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 that construction of 359 barracks over the next four years was sanctioned in view of overcrowding in prisons.

Energy Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said that 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