Inmate dies, security lapses exposed

Jail sources said Azharuddin, an associate of Gudda, was among the 40 inmates, who had attacked the guards with razors and blades. The guards, in turn, attacked the prisoners with batons that hit Azharuddin on the head.

Jail sources said Gudda had slashed his stomach and hand with a blade to prevent his transfer from the jail. He is now undergoing treatment in the jail hospital and his transfer has been postponed till he is discharged from the hospital.

Asked as to how the inmates got hold of razors and blades, Hussain said, 8220;The IG prison himself is probing the matter.8221;

Jail Minister Biswanath Choudhury said: 8220;We have ordered an inquiry into the incident and action will be taken against the guilty. I have discussed with the chief minister the need to constitute a special combat force to check untoward incidents in jails.8221;

He also admitted that the Presidency jail guards had applied force to control the inmates on Tuesday.

Hussain said, 8220;We are investigating if any foul play had led to Azharuddin8217;s death. His body has been sent for postmortem.8221;

The incident has also exposed the growing irregularities in the jail management. A few days ago, a SIM card was recovered from Gudda8217;s ward.

An officer of the jail said: 8220;Besides razors and blades, the gang members had also sneaked in a firearm in the jail and were extorting money from other inmates. Search is on for the firearm.8221;

Jail authorities also informed that in March, a gang war had broken out in the jail, in which Gudda was involved and thereafter a decision was taken to shift him to the Dum Dum Central Jail. But Gudda had refused to leave the Presidency jail.

The incident also highlighted the lack of preparedness of the state jail administration to control the rowdy inmates. The jail guards are not adequately trained and have no modern equipment to control the crowd.