JAGATSINGHPUR: A Maoist lodged at Allipingal sub-jail was seriously injured on Sunday after an undertrial prisoner (UTP), accused in a murder case, attacked him with a broken cement slab.
Prasanna Pal alias Jagu alias Pabitra of Panchupalli under Erasama police limits, a former member of the State committee of the Maoists, was involved in Operation Ropeway at Nayagarh in which 15 police personnel and a civilian were killed in 2008. He and his accomplice, Ranjan Rout, district-level deputy commandant of the outfit, were arrested and sent to jail after their bail pleas were rejected.
Both of them were housed in the same ward with other UTPs including the murder accused Santosh Kumar Swain of Neepur village under Jagatsinghpur police limits. The incident occurred when two groups of UTPs clashed with each other on Sunday morning. Hearing Pal’s screams, jail staff rushed to the spot and intervened to avert a major clash. With serious injuries, Pal was admitted to Jagatsinghpur DHH.
In-charge Jail Superintendent Rabindranath Barik said the situation is under control and an FIR has been lodged against Swain at Jagatsinghpur police station for attacking Pal. Further inquiry is on, he said.
A similar clash occurred in the jail last week in which the UTPs pelted stones at each other and six inmates were injured. The jail authorities are grappling with an acute shortage of staff, overcrowding of inmates and poor infrastructure. The jail has around 180 inmates against the capacity of 170. It is situated along the main road and does not have a boundary wall.
The posts of jail superintendent, sub-assistant jailor and two wardens have been lying vacant since long but no step has been taken to fill those.