SARGODHA, June 25: The situation was anything but peaceful in the Sargodha district jail on Saturday, as inmates expressed resentment over the killing of a prisoner. Muhammad Arshad of Islampur, who was serving a one-year term, was shot dead while nine others suffered injuries in a clash between the captives and police. The two assistant superintendents and four warders were rescued by the police on Friday night.

Jail superintendent Razaullah Khan admitted in a report he had lodged with the Cantonment police that eight captives and a policeman were injured by the firing of the jail staff.

He said around 2.45pm after Friday prayers, nearly 600 to 700 captives held up assistant superintendents, Khalid Majoka and Zarar Afzal, along with five warders — Ahsan Zia, Abdul Rehman, Nazar Husain, Muhammad Ilyas and Muhammad Iqbal.

Despite his repeated requests, he said, they refused to free the hostages and started demolishing wards of condemned prisoners and a wall of woman prisoners’ wards.

Apprehending escape of offenders, he said, he directed the jail officials to open fire at the protesters and they did so in self-defence, as the mob had started pelting them with stones.

He said actually captive Sajawal and Nasir hurled threats at their opponents. Upon search, a cell phone and other prohibited material were recovered from them after which they instigated dozens of inmates to riot.

The jail inmates had taken the plea that they were maltreated and not even provided potable water.

Ironically, the Cantonment police have yet to institute a murder case of Arshad, who fell a victim to the jail staff firing. The jail authorities have, however, got registered a case against dozens of inmates six of who have been nominated so far.

The district and sessions judge has ordered a judicial probe and deputed Hafiz Muhammad Tariq, a judicial magistrate, to submit a report.

Reports revealed that negotiations between the protesters and the law enforcers continued till late at night and the police operation terminated after 11 hours. Several police officials fell ill because of muggy weather conditions in the jail.

The district was sweltering with 51 degrees Celsius on Friday.

Meanwhile, Punjab IG (Prisons) Sarfraz Ahmad Mufti has ordered a high-level inquiry to ascertain the cause of unrest and fix responsibility for it. DIG (Inspection) Abdul Sattar Aajiz has been appointed an inquiry officer.

The IG told APP that Faisalabad Range DIG (Jails) Nasir Mahmood Warriach had been directed to set up his camp office at the Sargodha Jail till the matter was resolved and those found guilty brought to book. He said there would be no compromise on discipline in prisons in the province.

The IG said he would visit the jail to collect first-hand information about the untoward incident.