Commotion at Central Prison entrance

Commotion prevailed at the Coimbatore Central Prison entrance on Thursday afternoon, when a group of activists belonging to various Hindu outfits and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi staged a protest condemning the prison administration for denying them permission to give sweets and clothes to prisoners belonging to the majority community for Deepavali.

The activists squatted in front of the prison entrance, shouted slogans against the prison administration and alleged that it permitted visitors bringing food items for prisoners belonging to the minority community.

Frisking

The activists also accused the prison security staff of damaging the sweet boxes and clothes in the name of frisking.

Assistant Commissioner of Police A. Murugasamy held talks with the activists while the other police officers with the prison officials. Following assurances to resolve the issue, the activists dispersed.

‘Permission not denied’

Prison officials said that permission was not denied to give sweets or clothes. But the prison security staff had to discharge their duty laid out by the prison manual by checking the sweets and scanning the bags containing clothes to prevent the entry of banned items into the prison.