Hyderabad, February 01: Undertrial prisoners having links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence on Monday triggered a riot in the Cherlapally central prison, attacking prison staff with cricket bats when the latter went to conduct a surprise check following information that some of the inmates were using mobile phones. Nine prison staffers were injured, a deputy jailor suffering severe injuries.
His condition is said to be serious.
Prison authorities said they were tipped off that prisoners were running illegal activities from the prison with cell phones.
At around 4.45 pm, nearly 40 jailers led by additional inspector-general Sunil Kumar conducted searches in various barracks, including the Papagni barracks where ISI agents, terror suspects and gangsters are lodged. As the jailors entered the Papagni block, the prisoners pounced on them.
They reportedly pelted stones and battered those at arm’s length with cricket bats.
According to sources, gangster Ayub Khan and terror suspect Viqaruddin were among the rioters. The riot lasted nearly 30 minutes. Though the prison staff beat a retreat initially, they recovered later. They had to cane the inmates at one point of time. Director-general (prisons) C N Gopinath Reddy told Express that more than 10 prisoners attacked the staff indiscriminately.
“We have lodged a complaint with the Kushaiguda police. The issue will be taken seriously. Similar searches will be conducted again.” Deputy jailor Hanumant Prasad was initially shifted to a private hospital at AS Rao Nagar and then to NIMS in a serious condition.
-Agencies