Violence erupts in Varanasi prison, jailer held hostage

Prisoners in the Varanasi district jail went on a rampage on Saturday to protest against extortion and poor quality of food. 

They held the jail superintendent and his deputy hostage for several hours.According to police sources here, deputy jailer Ajai Kumar Rai was thrashed by the prisoners and was admitted to the hospital.

His condition is said to be critical.

Sources said that the trouble sparked off around 10 am, when the prisoners were being taken for parade. The prisoners turned violent after one of the inmates was assaulted by a jail staff.

Hundreds of prisoners indulged in heavy stone pelting inside the jail, forcing the jail officials and guards to beat a hasty retreat. 

Jail superintendent Ashish Tewari and Rai were held hostage by the inmates.Alarmed officials rushed additional police force from the nearby police stations to quell violence.

Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders were also roped in to talk to the inmates and restore order.

While Rai was allowed to be taken to hospital by the prisoners, Tewari could be rescued after seven hours following intervention of senior officials and local SP leaders, sources said.

The government later shunted Ashish Tewari and Ajai Kumar Rai and ordered a magisterial probe into the violence.

Around a dozen people, including cops, were injured in the violence, sources said.