Orissa:The much hyped jail reforms in Orissa received a severe blow when 100 prisoners of Bargarh district's Padampur sub jail took the jail authorities hostage for more than 15 hours.
The prisoners took possession of the jail keys, switched off the power supply and locked the jail staff in a cell.
The trouble began when a prisoner, Purshotam Sahoo, complained of sub standard food and went on hunger strike.
When the jailor came to know about the hunger strike, he and three wardens severely beat up Purshotam.
This enraged all the other prisoners and nearly 100 prisoners rushed to Purshotam?s aid.
They managed to over power the jail staff.
The district administration was fast to react and immediately asked the police to cordon the jail so that no prisoner escaped.
They then negotiated with the prisoners for more than 15 hours.
The jailor and the wardens were finally released when the district administration assured the prisoners that their demands would be met.
SP Sambalpur, S.S. Debdatta Singh, said, "We decided to be patient and negotiated with the prisoners. Using force was our last option."
Purshotam said, "The jailor would beat us and torture us all the time. This time things went too far and we revolted."
Meanwhile the jailor has been removed from his post and the state government has ordered a probe.
Unless the real problem is addressed soon this unrest might soon instigate prisoners in other jails to rebel and the State government's attempt to bring jail reforms in the state could prove futile.
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