DERA GHAZI KHAN, Oct 2 Police on Saturday used teargas and resorted to baton charge to control central jail prisoners who reportedly made hostage two jail officials to protest alleged torture of some of their fellow inmates and refused to return to their barracks.

Reports said the agitation started when scores of inmates chanted slogans against the jail administration and refused to return to their barracks on Saturday evening as a mark of protest against torture of five prisoners -- Kalu Gopang, Khalil, Manzoor, Asghar Gopang and Haji - and their subsequent shifting to Multan Jail.

Sources said the protesting prisoners made hostage the jail deputy superintendent and an assistant superintendent to pressurise the administration. The jail superintendent was out for some official duty when the incident occurred.

Failing to control the situation, the jail administration called the district police to their rescue. The police used teargas and baton charged the protesters who went to the rooftop of the barracks.

According to sources, at least five prisoners were wounded in the police operation which was continuing inside the prison till the filing of this report.

Though there were reports that the two jail officials who were made hostage have been rescued, they could not be contacted despite repeated attempts by this correspondent.

At present 1,400 prisoners are detained in the central jail which has been designed for 700 inmates.