Telangana jailers allegedly harass Samaikhyandhra undertrials

The alleged harassment of 11 undertrials prisoners in central jail by jail warders reportedly belonging to Telangana snowballed into controversy.

Kadapa: The alleged harassment of eleven undertrail prisoners in central jail by jail warders reportedly belonging to the Telangana region snowballed into a major controversy on Wednesday. The eleven undertrails, arrested in connection with vandalising of a statue of Indira Gandhi in Kadapa this month, complained about ill-treatment they faced in jail, to second Additional Junior Civil Judge Bojjappa, when they were produced before him today. The magistrate, who recorded their complaint, sought an explanation from the deputy superintendent of police. The prisoners complained that the four jail warders, who belonged to Nalgonda district of Telangana region showed discrimination and forced them to clean toilets and bathrooms. They also alleged that the warders forced them to do gardening and other work.

When a team of reporters accompanied by Samaikhyandhra Joint Action Committee leaders visited the central jail, Deputy Superintendent of Police Govindarajulu denied the allegation and claimed that undertrials were never asked to clean bathrooms and toilets, except their own barracks. However, undertrials Anjaneyulu and Penchalaiah, who spoke to reporters in the presence of jail authorities, reiterated their allegations and also said that they were handcuffed while being taking to court. One of the undertrial alleged that jail authorities did not refer one of his fellow jail inmates suffering from high fever to doctors. Undertrials also alleged that they were being treated by the four warders as if they are "hardcore criminals". The jail deputy superintendent assured Samaikhyandhra Joint Action Committee leaders that agitators will be treated appropriately as per the jail manual. PTI