Meghalaya rebel injured in jail scuffle

Jailed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) chief Champion R. Sangma was injured in a scuffle with four other inmates of Shillong Jail Wednesday, a prison official said. The state prisons chief was removed after the incident.

Champion sustained head injuries after inmates hit him with sticks.

"He (Champion) has been admitted to a hospital after he became unconscious at the operation theatre to nurse laceration in his skull and an ear. Doctors suspect spinal injury," hospital official L.L. Sawian told IANS.

The other four injured prisoners identified as Sankyntiew Decruse, Suresh M. Sangma, Milstone D. Sangma and Pulop D. Sangma were released after first aid.

Prisons Chief Kulbir Krishan, who ordered a probe soon after the incident, was removed from the post in the evening.

"Krishan has been removed as prisons chief and he has been replaced by F.D. Sangma with immediate effect," a government official said.

Champion, a rogue police officer now lodged in Shillong Jail, was booked for waging war against the government after his arrest July 30, 2012 near the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya.

He has also been booked for kidnapping for ransom and murder.