SARGODHA, July 6: Around 100 Sargodha district jail inmates, including some under-trial prisoners, have been shifted to different prisons in the Punjab without allowing them an opportunity to defend themselves during an inquiry into the June 25 riot. The captives have been detained in the central jails in Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and Mianwali, and the Faisalabad district jail as a punishment. Ironically, the inquiry into the clash has not been completed even after two weeks.

Sources said the prisoners had been shifted to different jails in the province on the night between Monday and Tuesday. They said senior officials, who had been monitoring the situation after the clash, had maltreated the captives who were engaged in the brawl.

Meanwhile, Rana Ejaz Ahmad Khan, the special adviser to chief minister, visited the district jail the other day where the captives apprised him of excesses of the jail authorities.

He assured the inmates that an appropriate action would be taken against the jail officials found guilty of maltreating prisoners without any provocation and other irregularities.

He said the former jail deputy superintendent, who had allegedly marred the jail atmosphere, has been transferred.

Rana Ejaz said he would submit a report of shifting and manhandling of the jail inmates to the chief minister.