Author:
Publication: Press Trust of India
Date: November 10, 2002
Dubai-based don Aftab Ansari, the
main accused in the January 22 American Centre attack, has been charged
with instigating co-prisoners to a scuffle inside the Presidency Jail in
Kolkata. Inspector General (Prison) in West Bengal Anil Kumar told PTI
here on Sunday that the incident took place inside the prison on Saturday
when Ansari resisted body frisking and provoked eight other co-accused
to do so during mandatory frisking before taking them to a city court.
"It was a routine procedure in the
prison to send the undertrials for thorough frisking before and after a
trial," he said.
The jail authorities have lodged
a complaint at the local police station against Ansari and eight others,
while an inquiry into the incident had been ordered and its report would
be submitted in the court during the next hearing.
Chaos spread as one co-accused Shakir
Akhtar alias Rohit went on the offensive and beat up a jail staffer after
he was asked to take off his shoes.
Akhtar was also beaten up and later
admitted to the jail hospital with several injuries.
Kumar said the incident took place
at Ansari's instigation.
Immediately security in the prison
was intensified with the deployment of more forces, he said.
However, eight prisoners, including
Ansari, were later taken to the city sessions court under strong police
protection.
The next hearing in the case relating
to the American Centre attack would be held on November 21.
