On the evening of the 4th of April, inmates burnt a temporary jail and caused riots at a high security jail in Srinagar. Rumours started to circulate, some of the inmates would be shifted from the Kashmir Valley, which caused the inmates to start wreaking havoc.
According to the officials at the jail, the inmates were also protesting against the building of new barracks in the area. Apart from burning down the shelter, the inmates also tried to break out of the cordoned off areas.
Senior police and additional CRPF officials were immediately sent to contain the rioting. However, since the jail housed close to 480 inmates, the police had to use extra force.
As per the reports given by the senior officials present, pellet guns had to be used to quell the riots. Two prisoners were injured during the containment.
While the inmates caused the riots believing they were being shifted, the authorities maintain, the said inmates were taken out to build the new barracks and were not being shifted.
Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh, who is also the DG of Prisons, said, some inmates instigated others to stop the repair and reinforcement works inside a barrack. Singh also went ahead to deny the rumours about the inmates being shifted from the jail.
Apart from the temporary holding cell being burnt down, reports also said, a gas cylinder exploded. Starting on the night of the 5th, the riots continued with intensity till the situation was contained by the forces.
With the situation being contained for now, the officials are doing everything they can to make sure these riots don’t break out again.
Stay tuned for more updates.
