November 11, 2003	Tuesday	Ramazan 15, 1424

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SANGHAR, Nov 10: The inmates of the Sanghar District Jail and their relatives have levelled allegations of torture, corruption, inhuman treatment, sexual abuse of juveniles and use of narcotics against the jail administration.

This correspondent met several people who were recently released from the prison and the under-trial prisoners who were being brought to the courts for hearings.

The prisoners said the jail officials used all means to extort money from them and their relatives.

They said a prisoner, after he was brought to the jail, was beaten up by the jail staff and if he did not pay bribe, the staff stripped him and forced him to wear his shoes around his neck. Then he was taken to a torture cell set up in the solitary confinement ward on the left side of the main gate, they added.

The jail staff poured gutter water into nostrils of prisoners after tying their hands on their back and putting sticks between their tied hands, a former prisoner said.

He said the practice continued till the prisoners or their relatives paid bribe.

The prisoners also accused the jail staff of indulging in immoral acts with juveniles.

They said charas and heroin was easily available in the jail.

They said a special meeting could be arranged in the office of the jail chief after payment of Rs500 to Rs2,000.

They said when under-trial prisoners were taken to courts they were provided with shopping lists by the staff and those who did not bring the items were tortured.

The prisoners complained that food being supplied to them was substandard and tea was provided to them without sugar.

They said the ailing inmates were not provided with treatment without bribe.

Mohammad Usman, a resident of Sinjhoro, said when his son, Sikandar Khorkhani, was brought to the court for hearing there were 12 or 13 stitches on his chest.

He further said his son had told him that he was tied to iron bars and was also confined in a deserted ward for eight days as he had failed to pay bribe.

JAIL SUPERINTENDENT: When contacted by telephone, jail superintendent Yunus Maseeh denied that the prisoners were tortured and said the inmates were treated according to the jail manual.