Five jail personnel, including a deputy jailer, have been suspended for allegedly providing "special facilities" to gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who is lodged in Banda district jail, an official said.
Vireshwar Pratap Singh, a deputy jailer, was also accused of obstructing the process of routine check when Banda District Magistrate Anurag Patel along with Superintendent of Police Abhinandan visited the jail for a surprise inspection last Monday night.
Singh was suspended on the basis of the district administration's report to the state government.
Sources said that during the inspection by the district magistrate and district police chief last Monday night, Deputy Jailer Vireshwar Singh neither cooperated with them nor answered any question during the inspection. Both the officers reached the jail at around 10 pm on Monday. Intensive search was conducted of other suspected prisoners, including Mukhtar's barricade in jail. The entry of visitors was also seen in the register. Information about jammers and CCTV cameras was also obtained. Along with this, the security personnel who were engaged in the security of Mukhtar were also questioned. Intensive search operation continued in the jail for about two hours.
During the inspection, the district magistrate and district police chief were assisted by Deputy Jailer Vireshwar Singh, but an attempt was made to cover up the flaws that were found. The senior officers got annoyed with such behaviour of the jail officials.
Sources said that the district magistrate and district police chief caught sight of don Mukhtar Ansari's barrack where many Dussehri mangoes, kiwis and other items were found. The jail personnel posted for Mukhtar's security were also found without body cams. When questioned, the jail officials could not give replies.
District Magistrate Anurag Patel sent the report to the Inspector General of Prisons Administration and Reforms Lucknow after which all five, the deputy jailer and four jail guards, were placed under suspension. The deputy jailer was attached to Lucknow Prison Training Institute till the departmental enquiry against him was completed.
Mukhtar Ansari, a former member of the state assembly from Mau, was shifted to the Banda prison in April last year after spending over two years in a Punjab jail. He was transferred to the Banda jail in compliance with a March 2021 Supreme Court order. Ansari faces trials in several criminal cases in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile in Chitrakoot, the prisoners attacked the jail warders after abusing them in the district jail on Tuesday late evening. One prisoner even tried to tear off the uniform. There was panic in the entire jail and the situation could be controlled after senior officials intervened. The jail warders also boycotted the work accusing the jail authorities of favouring the prisoners. They protested outside the jail gate.
Jail warders Ankit Kumar, Rampravesh and Ankush Nirmal, who were doing duty in the jail premises, alleged that while closing the barracks, the segregated (name of the barrack) prisoner Siraj and others attacked them with dustbins. They abused, assaulted and tried to tear their uniform. The matter was immediately reported to the higher officials of the prison but they failed to act. As soon as the information was received, other jail warders posted in the jail premises left the duty and started protesting outside the gate.
It is alleged that such incidents happen every day. Many times the jail warders are harassed by the prisoners and jail officials in the jail premises. The side of the prisoners is taken every time, due to which their coercion is increasing. By giving a memorandum to the jail superintendent, the jail warders have demanded a safe environment and action against the guilty.
Jail Superintendent Ashok Kumar Sagar, however, denied the charges and said that no discrimination was done with anyone including jail staff. He said that the jail staff was annoyed for a brief period but when they were told the facts, they returned to their duties. The incident is being investigated and those found guilty would be punished, he said.