LARKANA, June 30: Prisoners suffer from various diseases including gastroenteritis and eczema at the Central Prison, Larkana, during the summer. Kidney-related diseases are also common. And the major reason cited for the breakout of diseases is that it houses too many prisoners.
The jail superintendent, Manzoor Memon, elucidated that one of the main reasons for the outbreak of diseases at the jail was that at present there were more than 1,400 prisoners when its capacity was meant for only 410.
He said that the over-crowded jail had negligible medical care facilities.
He said that between six and 10 prisoners were sent to the small jail hospital on a daily basis as they fell unconscious due to heat and suffocation.
A barrack was not meant for more than 25 prisoners but, sadly, at the Central Prison at least a 100 prisoners were being kept in each barrack.
The jail superintendent said that it was quite risky to look after such a huge number of prisoners, especially during the summer.
He said that the number of fans at the jail was too few.
It was learnt from reliable sources that the jail authorities were thinking of shifting some prisoners to judicial lock-ups in the district so as to lessen the burden on the Central Prison.
They further said that the lists had been prepared and the shifting would start once the district and sessions judge, Larkana, had been consulted.
INQUIRY DEMANDED: The Hindu Panchayat Committee, Larkana, has demanded a judicial inquiry into the death of a prisoner, Raj Kumar, who was arrested on June 6 and sent to the central jail on June 22.
The prisoner died three days later and the prison authorities claimed that he had suffered a heatstroke.
Disputing the jail officials’ claim, Sham Kumar, chairman of the Hindu Panchayat Committee, maintained that Raj Kumar was physically fit when picked up by the Civil Lines police on the complaint of one, Rajib Samo. He indicated that police kept him in custody for two weeks before sending him to the prison.
Sham Kumar alleged that Raj Kumar was subjected to intense torture, either at the police station or the prison, which might have led to his death in the next few days.
The Zila Nazim, Khursheed Junejo, has written to the concerned DPO, recommending a probe into the alleged custodial death.