GILGIT, Jan 1: Inmates of district jail Gilgit after clashing with each other set fire to a barrack that spread to other barracks which was later extinguished by the firefighters after efforts that lasted for several hours, senior officials of administration and police said on Thursday.

The prisoners pelted stones and other things at each other amid huge flames engulfing the whole building that could be seen by residents of the town. And the police personnel because of their shortage could not enter the building and the administration had to call for reinforcement of the police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary who cordoned off the building.

After reinforcement, the police fired shells of tear gas to control the situation and later entered the building and baton charged the inmates. The causalities could not be known till filing of this report.

When asked about the incident, District Magistrate Sardar Saifullah and Superintendent of Police Ali Sher said they had no idea what stirred the clash among the prisoners.

However, the DM said situation was controlled and all the prisoners had been pushed back in the barracks and that an inquiry had been ordered into the issue. Mr Saifullah said he himself would head the inquiry to fix the responsibility of the incident.

“Until and unless the inquiry is carried out, nothing can be said about the incident,” he said. However, the SP said the investigation had been initiated and would be completed soon.

The jail superintendent said no prisoner had escaped and all the 74 prisoners were in the jail.