Gangwar in Tihar, 17 inmates injured

Brawl breaks out as prisoners were protesting against confinement in a special security ward

In a suspected gang war, as many as 17 inmates of cell number 3 of the special ward in Tihar Jail sustained injuries after two groups got allegedly involved in a scuffle and attacked each other with sharp-edged weapons in the early hours of Friday. The injured inmates were immediately taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital where they were given first aid.

According to the prison officials, the fight broke out at about 1 am and came to light after a call was made. While six prisoners, who sustained minor injuries, were rushed to the jail hospital, 11 others with cuts on their ears and hands were rushed to DDU Hospital. However, they were sent back to the jail after being given first aid.

Investigations revealed that the brawl broke out when the inmates, who were protesting against their confinement in a special security ward, went out of control. The inmates were up in arms against the authorities for keeping them confined in the special security ward for repeated offences. “A brawl ensued among them in which improvised sharpedged weapons were used,” a senior police officer said. According to a prison official, “The incident occurred around 11.30 pm on Thursday when an inmate in the special security ward needed some medical help. A doctor visited him. Later, he demanded to be taken out of the ward along with other inmates. When this demand was turned down by the warders, they engaged in a brawl.”

Denying the use of “blades” or any “group clash” within the jail, a senior police officer said that the inmates were taken to the hospital and later brought back as the doctors did not find them fit to be admitted for further treatment. Tihar jail officials said that the inmates involved in the brawl also instigated others to create problems for the warders and the jail staff.