Overnight clashes rock Srinagar Central Jail

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 authoritiesasked 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, triggeringa heated argument which later led to clashes between the two sides,” the sourcesaid.

Officials alleged that “frenzied prisoners” used gascylinders to torch some barracks amid intense sloganeering against the jailauthorities.

“In the incident, two barracks went up in flames while otherjail infrastructure got damaged, including the surveillance equipment installedat 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 tointense stone-pelting using the construction material that was dumped insidethe jail premises for new barracks,” said the official, adding thatintermittent clashes continued throughout the night while inmates “targetedvehicles and equipment”.

“Senior officers remained stationed in the jail to quell theprotests,” he said.

Another official said that repeated announcements were madeon loudspeakers asking inmates to stop pelting stones, “but they didn’trelent.”

“Two prisoners were injured in the clashes. One of themsustained injuries in his eye. Both are stable. Two barracks and surveillanceequipment were damaged,” the official said. 

TOP OFFICIALS VISIT JAIL

Deputy commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, deputyinspector general of police central Kashmir range, V K Birdhi, deputy inspectorgeneral of CRPF and senior superintendent of police Srinagar Haseeb Mughalvisited the central jail to take stock of the situation and pacify the angryprisoners.

An official source said Choudhary held detaileddeliberations with representatives of prisoners who were later pacified.

The deputy commissioner will be heading the probe to findout “sequence of events that unfolded in the jail.”

“It was on DC’s assurance that the angry prisoners agreed togo back to the barracks,” the official source said.

A top police officer told Greater Kashmir that the situationwas 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 beenlodged at police station Rainawari, while various government departmentsincluding PHE, roads and buildings, and power development have been asked toassess 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 mobileInternet, imposed curbs in parts of Downtown and barred people from offeringFriday congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid.

The Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq wasplaced under house detention. He was supposed to lead special prayers at theJamia Masjid.

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