An inmate of the Ludhiana Central Jail was killed and 35 injured when a clash broke between two groups of gangsters on Thursday, prompting police to open fire to bring the situation under control.
A senior police officer was among those injured in the mayhem at the Punjab jail.
The lawlessness comes days after a jail inmate was brutally attacked and killed in Nabha high security jail.
Taking serious note, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who is currently on a visit to Delhi, has ordered a magisterial inquiry by the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal.
The violence took place days after two jail inmates brutally attacked Dera Sacha Sauda follower Mahinderpal Bittu, behind bars as the main accused in 2015 Bargari sacrilege case, that eventually led to his death.
Such incidents have put the State Government in general, and the Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa in particular, in dock with all the rival parties demanding his expulsion from the Cabinet.
The trouble started at around 11.30 am soon after the news of death of a jail inmate, undergoing a trial in a drug case reached the jail. DCP Ashwani Kapoor said that jail inmate Sunny Sood was referred to a at a Patiala’s Rajindra Medical Hospital due to illness on Wednesday, where he died.
As per preliminary information, the news of Sood’s death triggered a riot in the jail premises, with the 3100-odd inmates refusing to go back into the barracks and starting to pelt stones, which were available due to some ongoing construction work. The rioting inmates also set on fire the record room, along with car of the Jail Superintendent apart from vandalizing the jail property.
As they tried to break the prison gates, the jail police tried to stop them by firing in the air, as per the initial reports. Meanwhile, additional police force reached the spot under tyhe leadership of Ludhiana DCP Ashwani Kumar to control the situation, along with the tear gas vehicles and 250-300 police personnel.
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Agarwal and IG Jails LS Jakhar also reached the spot, and the situation was finally brought into control at around 1.30 pm, when the prisoners were put back in the barracks.
The prisoner killed in the violence was identified as Ajit Baba, while those injured were Vishal Kumar, Prince, Sunil, Ranbir, and Pankaj.
DCP Kapoor said that as the news reached Ludhiana jail, his fellow gangsters started instigating other prisoners while accusing the police of “murdering” Sood, and the jail staff had to open fire to control the situation, which turned serious.
“The jail police had to open fire when two group of gangsters started pelting each other with stones at the central jail. One jail inmate was killed and 35 others, including an assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), received injuries,” said Kapoor.
The jail authorities said that the ACP of the city police and some members of the jail staff received injuries due to fierce brick batting by the inmates. They also set an official vehicle of the jail superintendent and a portion of the jail kitchen on fire with the help of an LPG cylinder, the authorities said.
The fire brigade and the jail authorities said the rioters, numbering around 300, also tried to break open the main gate of the jail.
Commenting on it, Commissioner Police (CP) Sukhchain Singh Gill said that the situation was now under control and the prisoners were sent back to their barracks.
CM ORDERS MAGISTERIAL PROBE
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry, to be conducted by Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner, into Thursday’s outbreak of violence in the Central Jail.
The Chief Minister has asked for a detailed probe to identify the instigators of the violence, while making it clear that strict action will be taken against the culprits.
Capt Amarinder, during an informal interaction with some mediapersons at New Delhi, said that the incident did not reflect any law and order breakdown in Punjab, where the law and order situation was among the best in the country.
Responding to a question on the opposition’s demand for resignation of Punjab Jail Minister, he said that there was no question. “Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party have nothing constructive to say, except making such illogical demands. Situations are to be dealt and we are dealing with it,” he said.