JHANG, Sept 19: An assistant superintendent jail (ASJ) and three warders of the district jail were injured, one of them seriously, following rioting by prisoners, who were protesting the shifting of a fellow to the central jail, Faisalabad.

Reports said that accused Bashir Gilhoter was awarded five years rigorous imprisonment by a local court on Wednesday. The court also ordered his shifting from the central jail, Jhang.

At about 7pm, ASJ Mushtaq Ahmed and some warders went to Gilhoter’s barrack to comply with the court orders, but they were attacked by the convict and his jail mates.

Bricks, which the accused had accumulated in the jail, were the weapon jail inmates used in attacking the policemen. ASJ Mushtaq and warders, Zafar, Yaqoob and Sharif sustained injuries. They were rushed to the DHQ Hospital where Zafar was said to be in critical condition.

Later, the jail inmates climbed to the rooftop of their barracks and shouted slogans against the jail authorities.

On being informed, a heavy police contingent, led by DSP (headquarters) Aslam Shanker, entered the jail and restored peace after negotiations with rioters.

The jail superintendent was unavailable for his comments when this correspondent tried to contact him.

The DSP (headquarters) said the situation was under control and Faisalabad DIG (Prisons) Kaukab Nadeem had also reached Jhang.