The divisional jail here witnessed high drama for several hours late last night as controversial RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was shifted from Bhagalpur Central Jail on May 7, allegedly clashed with the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) and other jail staff who objected to the presence of his supporters in his room.Official sources said even blows were exchanged between SDPO Sudhir Kumar and the Siwan MP after the former objected to the presence of a number of his supporters in the room allotted to Shahabuddin.‘‘Tempers indeed ran high and there were heated exchanges between the MP and the police and jail staff. I cannot say if blows were exchanged, but definitely both sides used strong language against each other and accused each other of wrongdoing,’’ District Magistrate S K Mall said. He said the MP complained against the jail administration for not providing him facilities he was entitled to as a Grade I prisoner.‘‘The matter has been sorted out and now there is no bitterness between the involved parties,’’ Mall, who along with SP Sunil Kumar spent several hours inside the jail trying to settle the dispute, said.In Patna, State Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah denied that blows were exchanged. The incident, according to prison sources, occurred around 10.30 pm on Tuesday night when a medical board was examining Shahabuddin in his room in the presence of his supporters. A Siwan court had on May 8 asked the district authorities to constitute a medical board to examine the Lok Sabha member, who is said to be suffering from a spinal problem.
