Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010360381000.htm

National

Inmates go on the rampage in jail, inquiry ordered

Special Correspondent

Kolkata: The State government has ordered an inquiry into the rampage and arson by jail inmates at the Howrah Correctional Home near here on Thursday. The government also removed the secretary in charge of prisons.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who holds the Home (police) portfolio, chaired a high-level meeting on the incident on Friday.

Minister for Women/Child and Jail and Social Welfare Biswanath Chowdhury told journalists at the State secretariat that the inquiry would be completed by January 5.

The meeting, which lasted for half an hour, was also attended by the Inspector General (Prisons) B.D. Sharma, the IG (law and order) Raj Kanojia and the Superintendent of Police, Howrah. The inquiry will be conducted by IG (prisons).

Mr. Chowdhury said the main motive behind the fracas seemed to be an attempt at jail-break. He said the jail had 595 inmates. They went on a rampage on Thursday, vandalising the jailor’s office and setting it on fire. They also broke open the gates in an attempt to flee. A huge police contingent later brought the situation under control after firing several rounds of teargas shells. At least six jail staff and a jail inmate were injured in the incident.

West Bengal’s new Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said all efforts would be taken to prevent such incidents. He said police force would be strengthened in the jails and they would have to be deployed strategically.

The rampage by the jail inmates comes close on the heels of the escape of an inmate who was facing trial on murder charges. Senior jail officials were moved from their posts at the Howrah Correctional Home following this incident, in which an undertrial scaled the 18-feet jail-wall using a makeshift ladder and fled in daylight.

Mr. Chowdhury said it was decided at the Friday’s meeting that undertrials would be segregated from others.