Probe blames police corruption, attitude for Gujrat prison riot.

GUJRAT -- Corruption and misbehaviour of some senior officials of the district jail is said to be the reason behind Monday's riots by the prison inmates here.

The situation turned normal in the wee hours of Tuesday after hectic negotiations between the inmates and Prisons Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Saeedullah Gondal and Jail Superintendent Ghulam Sarwar. A heavy contingent of police was still deployed around the premises to tackle any untoward situation.

Meanwhile, the Civil Lines police booked at least 250 unidentified prisoners of the district jail on charges of rioting. The case was lodged on the report of Rana Muhammad Latif, the deputy superintendent of district jail, under sections 324, 440, 436, 353, 148 and 149 of the PPC.

According to a report by Rescue 1122, 18 people were injured, including City Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Parvez Gondal, two jail officials and several inmates, while 15 others suffered minor injuries.

250 prisoners booked on charges of rioting; five-member team to probe clashes

The initial probe conducted by the district administration revealed that the riots started when a senior jail official reportedly slapped a prisoner after exchange of harsh words on the issue of installing a hanger on the wall. It further alleged that Assistant Superintendent of Jail Khushi Muhammad and two other senior officials were consistently misbehaving with the prisoners and also forcing them to pay bribe on one pretext or the other.

Reportedly, while the prisoners were out of their barracks as per routine on Monday, a senior official slapped an inmate that flared up the situation after which the prisoners started protesting by pelting police with stones and trying to break the internal gate of the complex.

Police force rushed to the spot and DSP Gondal entered the jail to talk to the prisoners, who continued to pelt stones, which hit the official in his head.

Monday's power breakdown across the country also caused serious problems for the jail administration and police in tackling...