Agriculture jail inmates sit on hunger strike

Tribune News Service

Nabha, June 7 

Accusing jail superintendent of misbehavior and corruption, inmates of the open agriculture jail on the outskirts of the city went on a hunger strike on Thursday. 

The protest began after the inmates came in support of Amandeep Singh, another inmate, who has been on hunger strike for the past three days in protest against the change of his barrack. 

He alleged that his earlier barrack shed was covered with husk and weeds to reduce heat. 

He said he had been demanding the same to be laid on the tin sheet roof of other barracks, but his demand was being ignored. The inmates alleged that the jail superintendent also used foul language. 

They further alleged that superintendent Sucha Singh forced them to fill fuel tanks of tractors, besides asking them to pay for the expenses on the repair of machinery, while he was charging the same from the government by submitting fake bills. 

One of the inmates, Gurbachan Singh, said they were being tortured as the jail authorities turned off the power supply to the barracks in the hot weather conditions.

He alleged that the authorities also sold vegetables, which were grown on the jail campus, instead of serving them. 

Gurtej Singh, another inmate, claimed that the meeting room for the inmates and their visiting relatives had been converted into a store room. He also alleged that visitors were turned away most of the times without allowing them to meet the inmates. 

Jail Superintendent Sucha Singh said false allegations were being levelled against him. He said vegetables were used in the jail kitchen and the income from extra produce was spent on the jail premises only. 

He said inmates were protesting because of his strict attitude and he was working as per the jail manual. He said the new restrictions were troubling the jail inmates, who had become habitual of relaxations given by the previous officials. 

SHO   Sadar police station Bikar Singh also arrived at the jail complex to take stock of the situation. 

He interacted with the inmates and persuaded them to end the strike and submit a memorandum to the state government. 

However, the jail inmates refused to end the strike till their demands were met.