LARKANA: Protesting alleged excesses of jail authorities, prisoners in Larkana central prison staged a rooftop demonstration on Saturday and shouted slogans against the authorities, but, after hours-long negotiations with district and the jail officials they ended the protest.

The inmates went on strike and climbed up the rooftops of jail barracks in protest against ‘crude’ behaviour of jail authorities and a paucity of facilities in jail, said City ASP while speaking to Dawn.

The inmates were demanding ceiling fans in wards, he said.

However, sources said that the prisoners were compelled to protest over inferior quality of food, non-production of prisoners in courts, police bribes from jail visitors and other problems in barracks.

On Saturday the situation grew tense when they began burning worn-out clothes and an effigy of Jail Superintendent Afaq Rizvi in support of their demands.

Senior jail superintendent of central prison of Sukkur Aijaz Haidar was called in to hold negotiations with the prisoners. The sources said that the prisoners also made five jail constables — Abdul Hameed Sandelo, Hubdar Golo, Amjad Mangan, Wazeer Chandio and Jaffar Rahoojo — hostage.

However, Deputy Commissioner of Larkana Ghanwer Ali Leghari denied these claims. “Initially we have had a report that five constables were taken hostage by the prisoners but later it proved wrong,” the ASP city added. The jail authorities, district administration and police officers held talks with representatives of prisoners, which proved successful. Deputy Superintendent of Central Prison Maqsood Ahmed Siddiqui assured the inmates of facilities in accordance with the jail manual.

After six-hour-long protest the situation retuned to normality and the police and Rangers were withdrawn from the outside of the jail.