UP govt orders probe into jail staff 'welcoming' Som

A day after BJP MLA Sangeet Som, arrested in connection with Muzaffarnagar riots, was "welcomed" by the jailer and staff of Orai district jail, UP government today said action would be taken against those found guilty.
"There is no provision of saluting MLAs inside the jail. There is no protocol (for MLAs) inside the jail...We are probing the matter and action will be taken against those involved in the act," state prisons minister Rajendra Chowdhury told reporters here.
Som, who represents the Sarthana constituency, has been remanded in 14 days' judicial custody by a Muzaffarnagar court on September 21.
While the jailer "welcomed" Som with folded hands, few other staff saluted the MLA, who also waved back to his supporters from inside the jail gate.

When contacted, IG (Prison) R P Singh had said the matter has come to his notice and it would be looked into.
"Som is still a member of the Assembly and as a public representative he has the right of basic courtesies. If there is anything beyond that, it will be probed," he had said.
Som and another BJP MLA Suresh Rana were taken together to Orai district jail yesterday, from where Rana was sent to Banda prison.