SUKKUR, July 6: Twelve security personnel taken hostage by inmates in Central Jail-I on Tuesday were freed after a brief action by on Wednesday morning. One casualty has been reported.

Two men of Frontier Corps were among the hostages taken after a clash between the inmates and the security staff.

Prisoners were demanding facilities in accordance with the jail manual.

The administration held negotiations with the prisoners which remained unsuccessful. Prisoners took positions on the roof of the jail, while their supporters outside started firing towards the jail staff colony and residences of DIG and superintendent of jail.

Police returned fire and prisoner Abdul Raheem Domki was killed in the crossfire.

A police contingent including commandos in armoured personnel carrier arrived at the place in the morning to rescue the men held by prisoners. The authorities issued what they called the last warning and gave 10 minutes to prisoners to either release the men or face commando action. They were told that they themselves would be responsible for all the consequences including death of anyone.

Five minutes after the police action, prisoners sent messages saying that they were ready to hold negotiations to release hostages.

Jail officials accepted prisoners' demand in conforming jail rules after and the hostages were set free.

Prisoners who were injured are getting treatment in jail hospital and police and FC personnel in the Civil Hospital.

This correspondent repeatedly tried to contact DIG Prisons, Sukkur, Majeed Siddiqui for comments but received no response. LARKANA:

After receiving the news of turmoil at Sukkur prison, hundreds of inmates of Larkana Central Jail went to the roof of the prison building on Wednesday evening and pelted the security staff with bricks.

Constable Khalid Abbasi was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital.

The jail authorities sought help from the police department to restore order.

At the same time, the administration started negotiations with inmates.

Jail superintendent Abdul Ghaffar Rid said eh hoped the negotiations would yield positive results. But, he added, unjustified demands of the prisoners would not be accepted. He told reporters that action would be taken if the negotiations failed and the inmates did not return to their barracks.

The prisoners have been demanding for three months to bring about 200 under-trial prisoners shifted to other jails and allow use of TV cable, cellphone and delivery of uncooked food by visitors.