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Inmates lay siege to Nabha jail
Nearly 90 inmates of the jail here threatened to blow it up by using LPG cylinders from the jail kitchen on Tuesday. Trouble began on Monday evening when all 501 inmates held a dharna in support of their demands, including better food, restoration of parole, phone facility and release of gratuity. The situation in the jail went out of control in the morning forcing top officials, including DG (Prisons) Anil Kaushik, Patiala Deputy Commissioner Deepinder Singh, SSP Ranbir Singh Khatra, to rush to the jail. A posse of policemen was also deputed at the jail.
Fire brigades, ambulances and anti-riot vehicles were also pressed into service to tackle any eventuality.
The inmates are given Rs 8, Rs 10 and Rs 12 as daily payment on the basis of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled work.
Of the daily payment, 25 per cent is given to them in the jail to buy things of daily needs, while the rest is credited into their accounts. For the past 10 months, it is learnt that the 75 per cent amount has not been credited into their accounts. This was the root cause of the protest.
The prisoners were on a fast since Monday evening and started raising slogans when their barracks were opened on Tuesday morning. Sensing trouble, jail security was put on high alert and the authorities were informed.
The emergency alarm went off when some inmates tried to damage the jail's main gate.
As police gathered around the jail, the inmates started collecting bricks and took control of the LPG cylinders, threatening to blow up the premises if force was used on them.
When contacted, Jail Superintendent J.P. Sharma said he was on leave and had resumed duty only on Tuesday morning.
Senior officials were tightlipped about the cause of the crisis.
DGP Anil Kaushik said that it was not an easy task to handle 500 prisoners, many of them hardened criminals. He assured that the jail authorities would look into their demands.
A jail guard said on condition of anonymity that four or five notorious prisoners who had been shifted to the jail recently were behind the trouble. He said they had formed groups and were running their diktat.
It was reportedly turning out difficult for the 93 guards on rotational duty to handle the hardcore criminals. There have been occasions when the guards have been beaten up by the inmates without any action from the jail authorities.
Patiala Deputy Commissioner Deepinder Singh said some of the demands such as proper food and release of daily allowance were genuine and the government would ensure they were met.
The inmates returned to the barracks after the senior officials intervened.
Nearly 90 inmates of the jail here threatened to blow it up by using LPG cylinders from the jail kitchen on Tuesday. Trouble began on Monday evening when all 501 inmates held a dharna in support of their demands, including better food, restoration of parole, phone facility and release of gratuity. The situation in the jail went out of control in the morning forcing top officials, including DG (Prisons) Anil Kaushik, Patiala Deputy Commissioner Deepinder Singh, SSP Ranbir Singh Khatra, to rush to the jail. A posse of policemen was also deputed at the jail.
Fire brigades, ambulances and anti-riot vehicles were also pressed into service to tackle any eventuality.
The inmates are given Rs 8, Rs 10 and Rs 12 as daily payment on the basis of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled work.
Of the daily payment, 25 per cent is given to them in the jail to buy things of daily needs, while the rest is credited into their accounts. For the past 10 months, it is learnt that the 75 per cent amount has not been credited into their accounts. This was the root cause of the protest.
The prisoners were on a fast since Monday evening and started raising slogans when their barracks were opened on Tuesday morning. Sensing trouble, jail security was put on high alert and the authorities were informed.
The emergency alarm went off when some inmates tried to damage the jail's main gate.
As police gathered around the jail, the inmates started collecting bricks and took control of the LPG cylinders, threatening to blow up the premises if force was used on them.
When contacted, Jail Superintendent J.P. Sharma said he was on leave and had resumed duty only on Tuesday morning.
Senior officials were tightlipped about the cause of the crisis.
DGP Anil Kaushik said that it was not an easy task to handle 500 prisoners, many of them hardened criminals. He assured that the jail authorities would look into their demands.
A jail guard said on condition of anonymity that four or five notorious prisoners who had been shifted to the jail recently were behind the trouble. He said they had formed groups and were running their diktat.
It was reportedly turning out difficult for the 93 guards on rotational duty to handle the hardcore criminals. There have been occasions when the guards have been beaten up by the inmates without any action from the jail authorities.
Patiala Deputy Commissioner Deepinder Singh said some of the demands such as proper food and release of daily allowance were genuine and the government would ensure they were met.
The inmates returned to the barracks after the senior officials intervened.
