Coronavirus: 4 Bengal prison inmates hurt in clash with guards over denial to meet families

Four inmates of Dumdum Correctional Home here were injured in a clash with prison guards on Saturday over state government's decision t to allow m to meet ir families till March 31 due to coronavirus outbreak, officials said. inmates pelted guards with stones and set jail property on fire following which police personnel burst tear gas shells to quell violent stir, a top prison official said. Family members of an under-trial prisoner, however, alleged that prisoner was killed with a bullet injury. State Correctional ministration Department Minister Ujjal Biswas, however, dismissed claim.

"Four inmates were injured during clash. y were mitted to R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. re are reports of any death so far," Biswas told PTI.

minister said inmates started agitating when authorities stopped m from meeting ir relatives on Saturday to prevent spre of vel coronavirus. In morning, some inmates insisted that y be released on parole, but when authorities refused to accept ir demand, y launched a violent agitation, a top prison official said. stir soon turned into a clash between inmates and prison guards, he said. RAF personnel and policemen mand to bring situation under control after some time, official said. Several fire tenders were pressed into service to bring fires under control, he said.

" situation is under control. We are trying to identify inmates behind incident," official said. Sporic incidents of clashes between inmates and prison guards were also reported at Presidency Correctional Home, a senior police officer said. However, re are reports of any serious injury and situation has been brought under control, he said. A senior official of West Bengal Correctional Services Department h said on Friday that allowing inmates' families to wait outside prison was against concept of social distancing, which is key to prevent spre of coronavirus.

"Keeping this in mind, a decision was taken t to allow meetings till March 31," he said.

In view of coronavirus outbreak, a family member of an inmate can w only call up prison authorities to enquire about his or her health. Meanwhile, state government removed Director General of Correctional Services, Arun Gupta and named Peeyush Pandey as new G & IG of state correctional services, a government tification said.