2 inmates wounded, 2 barracks go up in flames; Govt orders probe; Curbs in Downtown; Internet snapped; Friday prayers disallowed at Jamia Masjid
Srinagar, April 6:
Two inmates were injured in overnight clashes that rocked the Srinagar central jail after some prisoners engaged in a verbal duel with the jail authorities over their shifting from old barracks to the new ones, officials said on Friday. The government has ordered a probe into the incident.
THE INCIDENT
A source told Greater Kashmir that the jail authorities asked inmates to shift from old barracks to new ones at around 9 pm Thursday, leading to an altercation.
“The inmates refused to shift to other barracks, triggering a heated argument which later led to clashes between the two sides,” the source said.
Officials alleged that “frenzied prisoners” used gas cylinders to torch some barracks amid intense sloganeering against the jail authorities.
“In the incident, two barracks went up in flames while other jail infrastructure got damaged, including the surveillance equipment installed at its entry and exit gates,” an official said.
More than 400 inmates are lodged in 10 barracks in the jail, according to official figures.
“Four explosions were heard and inmates also resorted to intense stone-pelting using the construction material that was dumped inside the jail premises for new barracks,” said the official, adding that intermittent clashes continued throughout the night while inmates “targeted vehicles and equipment”.
“Senior officers remained stationed in the jail to quell the protests,” he said.
Another official said that repeated announcements were made on loudspeakers asking inmates to stop pelting stones, “but they didn’t relent.”
“Two prisoners were injured in the clashes. One of them sustained injuries in his eye. Both are stable. Two barracks and surveillance equipment were damaged,” the official said.
TOP OFFICIALS VISIT JAIL
Deputy commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, deputy inspector general of police central Kashmir range, V K Birdhi, deputy inspector general of CRPF and senior superintendent of police Srinagar Haseeb Mughal visited the central jail to take stock of the situation and pacify the angry prisoners.
An official source said Choudhary held detailed deliberations with representatives of prisoners who were later pacified.
The deputy commissioner will be heading the probe to find out “sequence of events that unfolded in the jail.”
“It was on DC’s assurance that the angry prisoners agreed to go back to the barracks,” the official source said.
A top police officer told Greater Kashmir that the situation was brought under control soon after the high-level team visited the prison.
“Fire tenders were pressed in to douse the flames,” he said, wishing not to be named.
The officer said an FIR into the incident has also been lodged at police station Rainawari, while various government departments including PHE, roads and buildings, and power development have been asked to assess the damage caused due to the fire and submit a report to the government.
CURFEW IN DOWNTOWN, NO PRAYERS ALLOWED AT JAMIA MASJID
Fearing protests, the Srinagar administration snapped mobile Internet, imposed curbs in parts of Downtown and barred people from offering Friday congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid.
The Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house detention. He was supposed to lead special prayers at the Jamia Masjid.
Courtesy: Greater Kashmir
