The Hindu : Front Page : Maoist prisoners protest death of inmate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2007
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Maoist prisoners protest death of inmate

— Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

Up in arms: Prisoners demonstrate inside the Beur Central Jail in Patna on Tuesday.

PATNA: Over 350 Maoists lodged in the high-security Beur jail here went on the rampage on Tuesday and clashed with securitymen and other inmates, demanding stern action against the jail authorities after a fellow prisoner allegedly committed suicide in the jail hospital.

Nagina Manjhi, a resident of naxalite-affected Gaya district, reportedly committed suicide on December 14 by hanging himself in the jail hospital.

Enraged at the incident, the naxalites, belonging to the CPI (Maoist), demanded action against the jail authorities, including jail superintendent and jailors, for alleged lapse on their part which led to Manjhi’s death, official sources said.

In a bid to pressure the other 800 inmates to support them, the Maoists vandalised the kitchen in the jail and poured water on stoves and food items.

The situation was brought under control after the district administration rushed in CRPF, CISF and Special Auxiliary Police contingents.

The naxalites were allegedly led by one of their top commanders Ajay Kanu who had allegedly masterminded the jailbreak at Jehanabad in which the Maoist rebels helped over 300 inmates escape in November 2005.

The naxalites then began a fast even as senior officials, including Director-General of Police Ashish Ranjan Sinha and IG (Prisons) Sandip Poundrik, tried to persuade them to go inside their wards and cells.

“We are negotiating with the agitators and everything is under control,” Mr. Poundrik said. — PTI

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