SAHIWAL, Nov 14: A prisoner died and 15 others sustained injuries in the central jail when police opened fire to quell a clash between prisoners and jail employees on Thursday.

Reports said that the dispute arose when the jail employees tried to shift a prisoner to another block. The dispute soon turned into rioting and the prisoners started pelting stones in anguish. They broke the cells of the condemned prisoners, got freed some 150 prisoners and rushed towards the main gate to climb it.

In the meantime, a heavy police contingent reached the jail and opened fire. Tear gas shells were also fired to control the situation.

A condemned prisoner, Mohammed Ejaz, sustained serious injuries and died at the DHQ hospital. Three jail employees and 15 other prisoners were also injured by the police firing and tear gas shelling.

Meanwhile, the inmates made hostage five jail staffers — deputy superintendent Rai Mohammed Arif, chief head warden Mohammed Iqbal, head warden Zakir Husain, wardens Rafiq and Boota.

Till the last reports, the police chief, the district Nazim and the jail authorities were busy negotiating with the prisoners for the release of the jail employees.

More police force has also been called in to control the situation.