Bhubaneswar: An undertrial prisoner at the Jharpada jail was seriously injured in a murderous attack on him by a gang of fellow inmates, allegedly led by dreaded mobster Hyder’s son Munna, Sunday. The violence came a day after authorities at the high-security prisons confiscated a mobile phone from the possession of an inmate. The injured inmate, identified as undertrial prisoner Soumyakanta Mohanty, has suffered deep injuries on his head in the vicious attack, jail sources said. Recently, in a letter to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Soumyakanta alleged that a nexus between influential inmates and jail authorities has been ensuring unabated supply of contraband items and luxurious accommodation to the former. “With the permission of jail authorities, several inmates are selling ganja inside the jail,” Soumyakanta mentioned in the letter.
Giving a rate chart of the items sold inside the jail, the letter mentioned that while Bidi is sold at `200 per piece, better accommodation is being offered at a monthly charge of Rs 50,000. The letter went on to add that mobile phones are also available for a monthly payment of Rs 5,000, while unauthorized additional meetings (of inmates) with relatives are fixed at Rs 10,000 per month. Jail sources said Munna and his henchmen executed the attack after thorough planning since they were the most affected by Soumyakant’s revelations. Sources said the city police top brass is likely to visit the jail Monday to take stock of security arrangements following the violence.
DEBADURLLAV HARICHANDAN, OP
