Appoint magistrate to control visitors at Lalu Prasad's jail: Official

Ranchi, Oct 21: With hundreds of visitors flocking the Birsa Munda Central Jail here, authorities have demanded that a magistrate be appointed to maintain order at the entrance of the prison where RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is lodged.

"We have requested for a magistrate to be posted near the gate because people pick up arguments with constables if not allowed inside the jail," Jail Superintendent Virendra Kumar Singh said. Prasad has also had VIPs visiting him, including the President's son, Abhijeet Mukherjee.

"Many people are unaware that there are 3000 prisoners in the jail and people also come to meet them," he said, clarifying that those visiting the prison not only came to meet Prasad. Singh said that visitors for Prasad were being allowed only in the second half. "He never comes out from his upper division cell in the morning," Singh said.

Meanwhile, Ranchi Police had written a letter to Birsa Munda jail authorities to maintain adequate security in view of the presence of Prasad, who is serving a five year sentence in the fodder scam.

When asked about it, Singh said, "We got a letter. It is a routine affair and adequate security has been taken since the beginning".

Inspector General of Police (Prison) Shashi Bhushan had said on October one that security arrangements inside the jail were the jurisdiction of its authorities, while it was the responsibility of administration outside. Prasad is serving five years rigorous imprisonment after the special CBI court of Pravas Kumar Singh found him and 44 others guilty in a fodder scam case.

Prasad has moved the Jharkhand High Court for bail and staying of the sentence and the Rs 25 lakh fine. The single bench of Justice R R Prasad has asked for the lower court's records in the case.

PTI