SARGODHA, Sept 2: Six guards and several prisoners were injured as a riot broke out in the district jail here after the death of an under-trial prisoner. Inmates were reported on Thursday night to be holding some jail staff hostage.

It was learnt that four prisoners had been killed in jail clashes but no official would confirm the report. The death of the under-trial prisoner is said to have occurred because of alleged torture by some prison officials.

The five-hour clashes started at 5pm on Thursday when police officials tried to take custody of the body of Ashraf Ali for an autopsy. Angry prisoners, holding jail staff hostage, are learnt to have demanded immediate action against officials involved in the torture.

Four of the six injured guards are said to be in a critical condition at the DHQ hospital. A heavy contingent of police surrounded the jail and resorted to heavy teargas shelling and aerial firing.

Although police and jail officials declined to give details, an injured guard told newsmen that dozens of prisoners had either been injured or fallen unconscious because of the teargas shelling.

After being ordered by the district and sessions judge, police registered a murder case against the jail's superintendent. While the jail riot is reported to have ended, police officials, assisted by a team of an intelligence agency, were still negotiating with prisoners for the release of hostages.