Six prisoners injured in clash in Kapurthala jail

Kapurthala, Sept 20 (UNI) Six jail inmates were injured in a clash between two groups of prisoners in the Central Jail here today.

Jail Superintendent Jaswant Singh Gill said that the clash occurred over a trivial matter during morning meals in one of the barracks where about 40 inmates were lodged. He said the inmates fought with utensils adding that there was no damage to the jail property.

Two of the seriously wounded, admitted in the local civil hospital, are stated to be out of danger while the other four with minor injuries were treated in the jail itself, he said.

Meanwhile, Kuljit Singh, a murder convict hospitalised with head injuries, told reporters in the civil hospital that he fell unconsiious after being hit with an iron vessel by a group of inmates.

He claimed that inmates broke the barracks and attacked each other with utensils resulting in injuries to many. The situation was brought under control only after the intervention of Jail DSP and other jail wardens, he claimed.

He alleged that an undertial Raja who was shifted here from Jalandhar Central jail was the main troublemaker as he kept bullying other inmates but the authorities had not taken any action against him despite many complaints against him.

Another injured inmate, Surjit Singh, an undertrial, told mediapersons in the emergency ward that he was also attacked at the same time with an iron lock on the head.

Mr Gill however denied the allegations made by prisoners that there was groupism in the jail.

He also said that the case would be taken to the police only if the injured inmates made a complaint.

He also claimed that the situation was brought under control by the jail authorities only and no senior officer visited the jail in this regard.

UNI XC JN BK1720