Violence in Central Jail, inmate injured in police firing

Jalandhar, Jan 7 (UNI) An undertrial was injured in police firing in the Central Jail here today, when the prisoners resorted to arson and damaged jail property.

The prisoners also set certain parts of the jail on fire with the help of cooking gas cylinders, besides damaging the jail kitchen, laboratory and dispensary.

According to police sources, the prisoners went on rampage, when the jail authorities tried to stop the inmates from observing hunger strike. The prisoners were protesting over the mismanagement and high handedness of the jail officials for not providing the mandatory facilities to the inmates.

The police fired gunshots in the air and also lobbed tear gas shells to control the inmates. In the firing, a prisoner identified as Kuldeep Singh was injured, who was immediately rushed to civil hospital.

It took more than three hours to bring the situation under control. Deputy Commissioner A S Pannu and SSP Arpit Shukla spoke to the representatives of the prisoners and assured them of action against the erring jail officials.

Meanwhile, Jail Superintendent Satpal Singh has been suspended and AIG, Jails, has taken over the charge of the jail. A ten-member committee of high officials has been formed to address the grievances of the prisoners.

A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered into today's incident, official sources confirmed.

UNI DP PS JMK1833