Al-Umma prisoners threaten fast

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, MARCH 31. A section of the prisoners in Coimbatore Central Prison, led by the Al-Umma founder leader, S.A. Batcha, has threatened to go on fast from April 2 demanding action against the newly-recruited second grade Warders, accusing them of being ``high-handed.''

In a memorandum to the State Home Secretary, Batcha has charged that the warders recruited in 1998 by the Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, were ill-treating the prisoners.

He alleged that these warders who had not been trained were carrying on a ``malicious campaign'' about the prisoners and prison administration through newspapers.

A section of the warders was already accusing the prison administration of extending concessions to the fundamentalist prisoners.

With the prisoners revolting against the warders in support of the prison administration, the situation remains tense in the prison. Already, a few other prisoners have joined the Al- Umma prisoners in the revolt

Meanwhile, a section of the warders has also preferred a complaint to the IG prisons accusing the administration of showing lenience to the fundamentalist prisoners out of fear and for other ``considerations.''

A section of the ``rebellious'' warders which was allegedly opposed to the prison authorities had been reportedly shifted out of the prison to various sub-jails.

Jail authorities have, however, termed the transfers ``routine'' ones. The transfers had been done by the headquarters and not by the local authorities, as it was being alleged, they maintained. The decision to transfer these warders had come in the wake of their arrogance, insubordination and anti- administrative activities, they added.

When contacted by The Hindu, the Range DIG of Prisons, Mr.B.M. Ezra Mandelson, said the proposed fast would be tackled without any difficulty and that a trivial issue was being blown out of proportion. The prisoners had sought action only against a few ``errant warders'' and not against the entire 1998 batch as it had been alleged.

Meanwhile, Batcha visited his ailing mother in Kottaimedu in the city on a six-hour parole, amidst tight security. He was granted parole by the Third Additional District Sessions Judge, Mr. Shanmugam, on Friday.

Two other serial blast case accused, Oom Babu and Zakir Hussain, went on parole to Kollengode in Kerala this morning to visit Salauddin, father of Oom Babu and father in-law of Zakir Hussain. The accused were lodged back in the prison in the evening.

Police are making arrangements for the parole of Ubaidul Rehman, Abdul Rehoob and Jaffer Ali to Karumbukkadai area for visiting their parents. Another accused, Hussain, had been given three days parole to meet his father at the Palayamkottai prison.

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Section  : Southern States
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