Violence in Uttar Pradesh prison after inmate's death

Lucknow, Feb 4 (IANS) Violence broke out in a Uttar Pradesh jail as prisoners attacked officials after an inmate was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the toilet, police said Wednesday.

The incident took place in Kannauj around midnight. Police resorted to cane charge and the situation was said to be tense till reports last came in.

The body of Hari Om, who was serving a life sentence in a dowry death case, was found in the toilet around 8 p.m. Tuesday, hung by a cloth.

The deceased's father is also serving a sentence in the same jail while his elder brother was recently released.

As the news spread, inmates attacked the prison guards who tried to disperse the unruly mob.

Senior officials rushed to the spot, but the inmates had turned violent. They climbed on the roof top and shouted anti-police slogans alleging that the jail authorities had murdered the inmate.

Jail officials were rescued by additional police reinforcements as the inmates tried to lynch them.

Reinforcements were rushed to contain the violence in the district prison situated in Anaugi, a home department official said IANS.

Prisoners also pelted stones at the district officials and police, accusing them of not paying heed to their long standing demands of easing of prison barracks from over crowding and better health facilities.

Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani said they were in talks with the irate prisoners and were trying to bring the situation under control.

Kannauj is the parliamentary constituency of Dimple Yadav, wife of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.