SARGODHA, June 24: Hostile inmates fought a pitched battle with jail staff and police in Sargodha district jail on Friday after taking two assistant superintendents and four other employees hostage.

At least 10 people, including a policeman, were injured in the clash. One of the injured inmates later died.

The inmates held the jail officials hostage as a mark of protest against alleged high-handedness of the prison staff.

This is the fourth incident of this nature in the last six months. In May 2005, a number of jail inmates were dealt with an iron hand after they held some jail officials, including an assistant superintendent, hostage.

In the latest incident, some inmates captured two assistant superintendents, Khalid Majoka and Zarar Ahmad, and four warders.

According to reports, inmate Sajawal, a share-holder in the Katchela Transport Company, protested recently against inadequate supply of drinking water and was allegedly manhandled by officials.

On the orders of jail superintendent Rana Razaullah Khan, the staff shaved off Sajawal’s moustache and tortured him for raising voice against the officials.

Immediately after Friday prayers, several inmates gathered at the jail mosque compound and called out to other inmates through loudspeakers. Later, they pelted the jail officials with stones, forcing the authorities concerned to call in police.

The law enforcers resorted to tear-gas and also opened fire on the inmates. A policeman and nine protesters suffered injuries and were hospitalized.

Later, the DIG (Prisons) Nasir Warriach told journalists by phone that Muhammad Arshad of Islampura, who was facing a one-year imprisonment, had been killed during the police firing. He said the jail officials had been freed and the protesters sent behind bars.

Hospital sources claimed that constable Afzal Haq had suffered a head injury while nine inmates Nazar Muhammad, Muhammad Hanif, Muhammad Ramzan, Imtiaz, Abdul Khaliq, Latif, Amanullah Khizar and Liaquat were treated for bullet wounds.

Pakistan Medical Association secretary Dr Sikandar Hayat Warriach told Dawn late at night that the injured persons were out of danger.

Meanwhile, the police said talks were going on for a settlement of the dispute and the protesters were demanding registration of a case against the jail superintendent and his immediate transfer.