Jail inmates threaten under-trial directors

Lily

B.R
Staff member
Kolkata: Six directors of the Advanced Medicare Research Institute (Amri) who are in police custody are facing extortion threats inside Alipore Central Jail. According to jail officials, they received a tip off late Monday night that Guddu, an inmate and a notorious criminal, has bought in arms to threaten the directors.

On searching Guddu's cell, police recovered a pistol and 14 rounds of ammunition. Police have suspended six jail officials. Guddu's associates have also called relatives of the directors and asked them to pay a ransom of Rs600,000 (Dh40,333) immediately.

Speaking to Gulf News, a relative of one of the directors said, "We have been repeatedly pleading with the court to put them under house arrest as they are facing such threats regularly. One of the director's family got a call informing them that someone will poison them [the directors] if they are not paid.

"They are under trial and it is yet to be proved whether they are responsible for the death of the people or the cause of the fire at Amri was due to their negligence. But if they get killed in the jail, who will take responsibility," questioned an associate of the Amri directors.

Police have already moved Guddu to Dum Dum Central Jail and are providing additional security to the directors. "We will provide special security cover for them and ensure there is no repetition of such incidents," said the jail official.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry for demanding the release of the Amri directors.
 
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