Just 12 days after the riots in Central Prison Hyderabad, wherein five guards were taken hostage, the inmates again took hold of administration block and made hostage 23 staff members including clerks and policemen on Thursday to protest shifting of one of their companion to another jail.
"About 40 to 45 prisoners have climbed to roof tops of barracks while others have made hostage staff inside the offices," DIG Prisons Allauddin Abbasi told PPI. The prisoners are protesting against the shifting of a prisoner Abdul Qadir Lakho from Hyderabad jail to Nara jail, outskirts of Hyderabad city, he said adding that shifting of prisoner was done on the orders of Sindh High Court.
The prisoners are chanting slogans, which could be heard outside the jail. Previously, the jail authorities had stopped supply water, power and gas to the prisoners before launching operation, however this time the authorities do not intend any operation. "Last time the PPP leaders intervened, but now the jail superintendent has initiated talks with the rioting prisoners," the DIG said.
When contacted, Amanullah Siyal, President PPP Hyderabad said he would not intervene again as the prisoners were habitual of rioting unnecessarily. "Shifting of a prisoner is not an issue to riot. DIG Abbasi said there were 2300 prisoners at Hyderabad central jail and out of them only 60 were troublemaker. "They have opened shops inside the jail and doing business," he revealed.