KARACHI, Oct 14: A constable of the jail police, who was injured on Monday in a clash with prisoners at the Central Prison, was shifted to a private hospital in view of his precarious condition.

The Sindh prisons chief, IG Yamin Khan, told Dawn that the constable had sustained severe injuries to the head and had been referred to a neurosurgeon.

He said that a group of prisoners gave the policeman a hiding before climbing to the rooftop of the barracks.

The jails chief said that two constables and two prisoners were injured in the clash.

He said that an inquiry into the incident was under way and a case against prisoners responsible for the incident would be lodged after the finalisation of the inquiry report.

Mr Khan said that the DIG of Hyderabad, Sanaullah Abbasi, was conducting the inquiry into the incidents of trouble in the two jails of Hyderabad and Karachi.

Meanwhile, sources in the Central Prison told Dawn that the group of trouble-making inmates was led by convict Munir Shah, who is serving a life term for drug peddling.

They said that the prisoners’ demands included the provision of a separate barrack in the jail.

They said that the lifer was transferred to the Malir District Jail, better known as Landhi Jail, some five months ago due to his behaviour.

The sources said that the convict was again shifted back to Central Prison only 10 days ago. They said that at least five cases against the convict were still pending disposal in different courts.