Prisoners attack jail guards

From our Correspondent
BARPETA, Sept 10: Prisoners of the Barpeta district jail staged a hunger strike demanding justice for Afruja Begum, wife of Anowar Hussain who was also a prisoner of the jail, who was allegedly raped by assistant jailor Prasanta Rajbongshi.

But, sources said, the departmental authorities have not taken any step against the assistant jailor till date. This further enraged the prisoners and they attacked three of the jail guards last morning. The guards who were attacked were identified as Raitul Ali, Hiranmoyee Bora and Thanuram Bora.

Sources further said that the prisoners had warned the authorities concerned that if proper action was not taken against the accused, they will not stop the agitation.

Also, the Barpeta police have not yet arrested the accused even after the victim filed a report against him. The DIG (prison) Ramani Nath, (HQ), visited the Barpeta district jail and assured verbally to do something within three days.

The prisoners are demanding the arrest of assistant jailor Prashanta Rajbongshi, to end the alleged on going corruption inside the jail, transfer of jail superintendent Moni Barua and to ensure proper treatment to prisoners by the jail authorities. It has also come to light that Rajbongshi, who had come to join his duty, is absconding. THE SENTINEL