A major crisis broke out in the Varanasi District Jail on Saturday after irate inmates went on a rampage, attacking prison guards and senior officials, while holding the Superintendent hostage for a few hours. They were ‘protesting’ against “corruption and poor living conditions in the jail.”
While the situation was later brought under control, the melee left at least seven jail officials injured, with Deputy Jailor Ajay Kumar Rai suffering serious injuries. Beaten by a cricket bat, Mr. Rai suffered injuries on his head and was rushed to the trauma centre of the Banaras Hindu University. Jail Superintendent Ashish Tiwari, Deputy Jailor Alok Singh and at least four prison guards also received injuries, the police said.
Trouble broke out at the jail at Chowkaghat after prison inmates, gathered for their morning parade, got into an altercation with prison guards near one of the barracks. The inmates alleged that a couple of them were assaulted by the prison guards.
When senior officials led by Mr. Tiwari rushed to inspect the scene, the inmates allegedly held him hostage and went on a rampage, shouting slogans and attacking jail officials and guards with bricks, stones and rods, sources said. The prisoners took control of a section of the barracks and some of them even attempted to escape, local reports suggested.
To prevent the deterioration of the situation, additional police forces, including the CRPF and the PAC personnel, were rushed to the spot. A team of the National Disaster Response Force was also dispatched to the jail. While unconfirmed reports said gunshots were heard during the clashes, the police denied that any shots were fired.
Local Samajwadi Party leaders reached the spot to negotiate with the incensed inmates, who finally agreed to free the officials after they were assured of a probe.
The inmates’ anger seems to have stemmed from their frustration with the dismal living conditions in the overcrowded jail, which houses 1,800 persons. The inmates submitted a letter to the administration listing their grievances, which included poor quality of food served at the jail, corruption and fleecing by officials for services and violence against prisoners. They also demanded the immediate removal of Mr. Rai and Mr. Tiwari. Both the officials were later suspended even as District Magistrate Raj Mani Yadav called a judicial probe into the incident.
In the evening, a senior police officer said normality had been restored in the jail.
“The inmates say there are major anomalies in the jail, some of which may be exaggerated. But there are allegations and counter-allegations. Only a probe will clear the real scene,” SP City Varanasi told The Hindu .
The BJP said the situation was reflective of the poor law and order situation in the State under the SP rule and that it had given in to “goonda elements.”
