By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: A violent clash which broke out among the Under Trails Prisoners (UTPs) at Shillong District Jail on Wednesday morning left eight persons injured including the outlawed GNLA chairman Champion Sangma.
The GNLA chief along with four other inmates who sustained severe injuries in the brawl was rushed to Shillong Civil Hospital for treatment. Three other UTPs who received minor injuries were given first aid in the jail hospital.
According to the Director General (Prison) Kulbir Krishan, Sangma, who received stitches on his head, is kept in the hospital for observation. However, the other four UTPs identified as Milstone G Momin, Polab D Sangma, Sankyntiew Decruse and Suresh M Sangma were discharged from the hospital after giving medical aid.
Champion sustained head injuries after inmates hit him with sticks.
When asked about the reason behind the scuffle, Krishan said, “We cannot say now how did the brawl started. We have ordered for a departmental inquiry.”
MK Sangma, Assistant Inspector General of Prisons, has been directed to submit his report by Friday, the DGP said.
Krishan also informed that similar incidences had taken place in the past. “Such scuffles cannot be avoided considering the fact that the jail is overcrowded and this has resulted to misunderstanding amongst the inmates which usually leads to this kind of brawl,” he said.
The jail has capacity to accommodate 150 (135 males and 15 females) inmates. The number of prisoners lodged inside now is 400 (386 males and 14 females).
“The scenario is same in other jails of the State including that of Jowai and Tura,” he added.
Meanwhile, senior Superintendent of civil hospital Dr LL Sawian informed that condition of Sangma was stable and he was out of danger. “We will be keeping him under observation for a while as his computerized tomography (CT) scan report is still awaited,” Dr Sawian said.
The city police, on the other hand, have beefed up security in and around the hospital premises to prevent any untoward incident from happening.