6 inmates injured in Helmand jail clash

LASHKARGAH (PAN): Six prisoners were injured during a clash with police in the central jail of southern Helmand province on Monday, when two policemen were captured by inmates, an official said.

Some political inmates protested against being kept in lock-ups for most of the time, the official told Pajhwok Afghan News on condition of anonymity. The protest turned violent after the prisoners caught two policemen at 10am.

Other policemen opened fire on the inmates in a bid to rescue their colleagues, injuring six prisoners, he revealed. About 1,200 prisoners came out of their rooms and protested for their rights.

A commission was later formed to resolve the issue through dialogue with representatives of the protesters, but it failed to achieve any breakthrough, according to the source.

More security forces and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers had reached the scene to resolve the issue by force and arrest the protesters, he added.

As the authorities concerned refused to comment on the issue, another official said the main reason for the protest was unjust implementation of forgiveness decrease issued by President Karzai.

Inmates claimed some people had been freed on the basis of nepotism and bribery, according to the source, who confirmed that some jail wardens were seeking illegal gratifications from prisoners.

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