The Hindu : New Delhi News : Tihar staff attacked over inmate's death

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 05, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Tihar staff attacked over inmate's death

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 4. Over 15 staff members of Tihar Central Jail today sustained injuries after the women inmates lodged in Jail no. 6, agitated over the death of a woman inmate, attacked them and broke television and furniture.

The incident occurred around 11-15 a.m. when food was being served to the women inmates. Some of the inmates refused to eat and started instigating their fellow inmates to assault the Jail staff. According to the jail authorities, the apparent cause of their anger was the death of Johra at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital on Saturday. She had been convicted for 10 years imprisonment and fine of Rs. 1 lakh under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Enraged over her death, the inmates started slogan shouting and suddenly attacked the jail staff members who were trying to calm them down. They allegedly broke a television and some furniture. They situation was brought under control by pacifying the inmates. Over 15 staff members, including the assistant superintendent and the warden, were injured in the rioting.

Later, the jail administration lodged a case at the Hari Nagar police station and the Jail Director General, Ajay Agarwal, ordered an enquiry into the matter, which would be done by the DIG (Prisons), Devinder Singh, to fix the responsibility of the rioting. Also, the Rajouri Garden Sub-Divisional Magistrate has initiated inquest proceedings into Johra's death to ascertain the cause of her death.

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