Rampage in UP jail, over 12 hurt

More than a dozen people suffered injuries in a jail riot in Varanasi when inmates attacked prison guards on Saturday morning and held two senior jail officials hostage.

The officials held hostage could be rescued after more than eight hours because the inmates did not allow anyone to enter the jail.

According to reports, the officials who were held hostage by the inmates were identified as superintendent Ashish Tiwari and another senior official Vijay Kumar Rai. Deputy jailer Ajay Kumar Rai, who was also attacked by inmates, has been seriously injured. He has been admitted to the trauma centre of BHU and his condition is critical.

Trouble began to brew on Saturday morning when a skirmish took place between a jail guard and inmate Naga Yadav, who was arrested three days ago in connection with an agitation against UP minister Surendra Patel.

With minutes, the situation took an ugly turn and all prisoners ganged up against prison guards and attacked them. As the jail inmates went on rampage, prison officials resorted to firing in the air to prevent them from breaking out of the barracks. Security forces’ efforts to enter the prison premises were thwarted and the prisoners refused to negotiate with district officials.

Finally, additional forces from adjoining districts were called in and the cops managed to overpower the inmates and rescue the officials.

The state government has ordered an inquiry into the violence and DIG jails, Santosh Srivastava will probe the matter.