Prisoner's suicide in jail triggers clash, govt orders probe

Inmates in Kannauj district prison clashed with jail staff and indulged in vandalism after a prisoner committed suicide, prompting police to resort to baton charge in which several inmates were allegedly injured.
The deputy jailor and five constables have been transferred while the state government has ordered an high level inquiry into the incident, a government spokesman said here.
Principal Secretary (Home) R M Srivastava said the probe would be conducted by Additional Commissioner Kanpur, Rajiv Sharma and Additional IG, Akhtar Riyaz and the committee would probe the incident and its report within three days.
Kamlesh, a resident of Thadia area of the district, who was lodged in the jail hanged himself in barrack number 3 late last night using his 'lungi' as rope, police sources said.

As soon as fellow inmates came to know of the incident, they clashed with the deputy jailor and other guards and also indulged in vandalism, sources said.
While protesting, inmates climbed on the prison roof and shouted slogans.

Jailor Satyendra informed authorities after which District Magistrate Rupesh Kumar and Superintendent of Police Subhash Shakya reached the jail along with a huge police force.
In a bid to control the situation, police resorted to baton charge in which several inmates were reportedly injured.
District Magistrate Rupesh Kumar has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and transferred five jail staff including the Deputy Jailor, O P Singh.

Meanwhile, IG (law and order) R K Vishwakarma told reporters here that agitated with the death of Kamlesh the inmates broke the lock of the barracks, climbed the roof and created ruckus.
The DM and SP reached the spot and pacified the inmates, he said.
In their complaint submitted to the SP, the inmates have charged the jailor, deputy jailor, warden and a constable with murder, though no FIR has been lodged so far, the IG said, adding that force from several police stations has been deployed inside the jail and the situation was under control.