B'day bash for accused's daughter in jail

A murder accused, lodged in jail in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur district, allegedly celebrated his daughter’s birthday inside the prison in the presence of not only guards but also of his family members, friends and a few local ruling party politicians.

Sources said Jitendra Singh alias Munna Singh, lodged the jail in connection with several cases – including murder, extortion and loot – hosted a party in the jail on his five-year-old daughter’s birthday, a couple of days back.

The matter came to light when the photographs of the party were circulated among the friends and others.

The sources said Singh had his daughter cut a 10-kilo cake.
In fact, one of the photographs reportedly showed the little girl offering a piece of the cake to the guests.

Netas attend
Reports also said several local Samajwadi Party leaders, traders and other professional had also attended the celebrations.

The jail officials were at a loss to explain the party and though they initially vehemently denied that such a party had been organised inside the jail, they could not explain the photographs.

“It is against the jail manual. Outsiders cannot be allowed in the jail and attend parties. If the reports are true, then it is a serious matter,” said a senior jail official in Sultanpur.

The district police officials said a thorough probe will be conducted into the matter and stern action will be taken against the official concerned if found guilty.

The violations of the jail manual are nothing new in UP, where the jails have turned into ‘safe havens’ for the dreaded criminals.

In the past also there have been reports that criminals lodged in the jails were found to have plotted murders and robberies.

Many jail officials had earlier written to the state government alleging nexus between the jail officials and the criminals.