A day after Sarabjit death, Pak prisoner attacked in Jammu jail
Shifted To PGI Chandigarh; Medicos Say Chances Of Survival Less; Jail Superintendent Suspended; Government Orders Probe
A day after the Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh died in Pakistan following a brutal attack from jail inmates, a Pakistani prisoner was attacked by an inmate inside the high-security Kot Bhalwal jail at Jammu on early Friday morning, injuring him critically.
Resident of Sialkot Pakistan, the victim Sannaulah Haq (52) was seriously injured in the attack and was shifted to PGI Chandigarh after his condition deteriorated at the Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu, where he was rushed by the jail authorities immediately after the assault.
Official sources said the incident happened at around 8 am when some of the prisoners including Sannaullah were gardening in the jail premises. “The incident occurred at around 8 am when the jail inmates were out of their cells for their routine work,” they said.
According to a preliminary probe, Sannaullah along with other prisoners was working in the garden where he entered into an argument with Vinod Kumar, a fellow inmate serving a life term in another case. Official sources said the argument turned violent and Kumar, an ex-serviceman hailing from Uttrakhand, hit Sanaullah with bricks and shovel on his head.
A case for attempt to murder has been registered against Kumar, who, however, remained at Kot Balwal jail till the last report came in.
Sources ruled out any enmity between Sannaullah and Kumar as they used to talk to each other quite often. “This morning also, they both were sitting together and were smoking cigarettes,” sources said, adding Kumar attacked Sannaullah with force after a heated verbal argument.
“As per the eyewitnesses the duo was discussing the death of Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan jail when the argument broke out,” sources, privy to the investigation of the case, told .
He received serious head injuries and was immediately provided first aid in the jail and later rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H) at around 9 am.
The doctors operated upon him and removed the blood clot after which he was shifted from Emergency Ward to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital at around 11:45 am.
A team of senior doctors was regularly monitoring Sannaullah. His condition however, continued to deteriorate and amid complete chaos and uncertainty, conflicting reports kept coming out throughout the afternoon from inside the ICU.
The doctors made it clear to the state government, immediately after the operation, that the chances of the victim’s survival were bleak and recommended his treatment at PGI Chandigarh.
“The authorities decided to shift him either to AIIMS or PGI Chandigarh but his condition was not such that he could have been shifted outside the state, especially without the Ventilator support,” a doctor, attending the prisoner, said.
As the condition of the victim deteriorated, the central government dispatched an air ambulance from Delhi to airlift Sannaullah Haq from Jammu to Chandigarh.
The victim was finally shifted to PGI Chandigarh at around 2 pm. A team from the Medanta Hospital was also sent to assist in his care and shifting.
Sanaullah was admitted to the ICU of the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) at Chandigarh, sources said.
“He has been admitted to the ICU. His condition is critical and tests will be conducted on him,” a PGIMER source said.
Tight security arrangements were made in the hospital.
JAIL SUPERINTENDENT SUSPENDED; PROBE ORDERED
Jammu and Kashmir government suspended two prison officials, including Superintendent of Kot Balwal Jail, and ordered a probe into the attack on Sanaullah.
Official sources said that immediately after the attack, Director General of Prisons K Rajendra asked the officials to submit a preliminary report of the incident. “Based on the preliminary probe, the DGP ordered suspension of two prison officials including jail superintendent Rajni Sehgal,” they said.
“We are looking into the matter and two officials including jail superintendent have been suspended,” Rajendra confirmed.
He added that a detailed enquiry has also been ordered into the incident and Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) will head the probe panel.
Minister of State for Home Sajjad Kitchloo said security of all jails in Jammu and Kashmir has been reviewed to avoid such incidents.
DGP Prisions has been asked to immediately review the security of Pakistani prisoners in jails in the State and ensure their security, he said.
There are a total of 270 Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.
Following the death of 49-year-old Sarabjit in Pakistan, Union Home Ministry had issued advisories to all states for maintaining high vigil in jails and ensure that there was no attack on any Pakistani prisoner.
Sarabjit died in a hospital in Lahore yesterday after being comatose for nearly a week following a brutal assault by fellow inmates in a high-security Lahore jail. The attack triggered an outrage in India.