Sikh inmates to be kept away from Sajjan Kumar

NEW DELHI: Sikh inmates will be kept away from former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar’s ward in the Mandoli Jail complex as a precautionary measure, jail sources said.

Kumar, sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, was brought to the Mandoli jail after he surrendered before the Karkardooma court here on Monday. The former Congress leader, who was brought to the jail by the police following his medical examination at a Delhi government hospital, would be lodged in prison number 14, the sources said.

They added that Kumar’s medical examination by a jail doctor was also carried out.  He underwent a detailed medical examination owing to his age. He told the doctor that he was asthmatic and was suffering from body pain, they said, adding Kumar has also brought several medicines with him. The sources said after the examination, he was led to ward number 1 and Sikh prisoners near that ward were shifted to other wards. Security had been increased in jail number 14 and the personnel asked to ensure that the two-three Sikh prisoners lodged in the prison should be kept away from Kumar as a precautionary measure, they said.

On the first day of his jail stay, Kumar went without food, the sources said, adding he will not be given special treatment and treated like other prisoners.

He was brought to the jail complex in a separate prison bus with two escort vehicles, following the court’s directions. The high court had set a deadline of December 31 for the former Congress leader to surrender.