Jammu: A Pakistani prisoner was critically injured when he was attacked by a fellow prisoner in the high security Kot Bhalwal jail here, police said Friday, a day after Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh died after being attacked in Lahore.
Sanaullah, a resident of Sialkot, was attacked by former Indian Army soldier Vinod Kumar, convicted for murder, following an altercation on Friday morning, a police officer said.
He received serious head injuries and was taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu, where doctors said he had slipped into a coma, much like Sarabjit Singh.
“He has suffered serious head injuries and is in a coma. He has been admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and we are planning surgery on him as early as possible,” a doctor at the hospital said.
The administration has readied stand-by arrangements to shift Sanaullah for specialised treatment outside Jammu and Kashmir “if required”, an official said
Jail sources said Sanaullah had been in the Kot Bhalwal Jail for the last 17 years. He has been booked in eight cases, including murder, and been given life imprisonment in two.
Vinod Kumar belongs to Uttarakhand and has been in Kot Bhalwal for six years. He is undergoing life imprisonment for murdering his colleague in Leh.
According to sources, both were brought to the jail grounds Friday as was routine. “They were all talking to each other when all of sudden some altercation took place between the two and Vinod Kumar hit Sanaullah on the head.”
Officials are trying ascertain whether Sanaullah was attacked with bricks or a shovel handle.
The state administration has tightened security in all the 14 jails in Jammu and Kashmir where about 80 Pakistani prisoners are lodged.
Attack ‘regrettable’: Meanwhile, terming as “regrettable” the incident in which a Pakistani prisoner was injured in a Jammu jail , New Delhi has said the matter was being investigated and the guilty will be punished.
The Ministry of External Affairs also said the injured was receiving the medical treatment and once the medical arrangements were in place, consular access will be provided.
“The matter is being investigated and the guilty will be punished. Safety and security of prisoners in custody lies with the jail authorities and the necessary action is being taken. We are in touch with the Pakistan High Commission on the matter,” the spokesperson in the ministry said.
On the otherhand, Pakistan on Friday expressed serious concern over the attack on a Pakistani prisoner in the high security Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu and sought immediate consular access to him.
“Pakistan High Commission has taken up with the ministry of external affairs the attack on Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah in Kot Bhalwal in Jammu,” said a statement.
“Pakistan High Commission has asked for detailed information of the incident, immediate consular access, medical facilities for the victim and security of inmates (other Pakistani prisoners),” it added.
Security of 57 Pak prisoners in Punjab jails tightened : Meanwhile, the security of Pakistani prisoners in Punjab jails has been beefed up.
The department has instructed all superintendents of jails to shift all the Pakistan prisoners in the side barracks and no Indian prisoners would be allowed to interact with them, Senior jail authorities said here.
Around 57 including, two women prisoners from Pakistan have been lodged in Punjab’s five jails. The Pakistan prisoners would not be allowed to come out from their barracks till further orders. Besides, a strict vigil would be maintained on their movements and food.(Agencies)