DERA GHAZI KHAN, March 7: A prisoner died on Thursday night after alleged police torture at the central jail.

Sources told Dawn on Friday that prisoner Sultan Maachi quarrelled with his fellow Ashiq Gopang, a death sentence convict, and tried to cut his nose.

The jail administration allegedly tortured both the captives to teach them a lesson. Sultan was brought to the District Headquarters Hospital’s emergency ward where doctors referred him to the Multan’s Nishtar Hospital due to his critical condition. He died on his way to Multan.

No sooner had the news of colleague’s death reached the Dera Ghazi Khan central jail, at least 700 prisoners went on a strike. They assembled at the jail’s courtyard and refused to go inside.

The civil administration was called to negotiate with the captives and settle the dispute. Deputy district officers assured the protesters that action would be taken against the wrongdoers.

Meanwhile, District Coordination Officer Saqib Aleem suspended assistant warden (barracks) Ghulam Farid and appointed Javed Mahmood Bhatti to probe the incident.

When contacted, the deputy superintendent told this correspondent that Sultan, a resident of Dajil, died of diabetes.