Siraha: Altogether 13 prisoners were injured when a clash erupted at District Prison, Siraha on Sunday. Dispute relating to selecting a leader, ‘naike’, from among the inmates flared up, leading to a clash among the inmates, said Chetraj Baral, Assistant Chief District Officer of Siraha. Tensions gripped members of two inmate groups regarding the selection of the ‘naike’, eventually escalating to a skirmish.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the injured inmates were rushed to the Provincial Hospital, Siraha. Assistant Chief District Officer Baral informed that preparations were underway to send them to Kathmandu for further treatment due to a security threat.
A team from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department immediately reached the prison following the clash. The prison, despite having the capacity to house 150 prisoners, is currently overcrowded with 458 prisoners.
Security agencies and intelligence agencies’ representatives had inspected the same prison the previous day but found nothing amiss. The clash, occurring a day after the inspection, has raised questions about prison management. An investigation committee was earlier formed to probe the alleged criminal activities in the prison, but the report of the committee is yet to be made public.