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8 die as cops open fire to quell jail rioting

Eight inmates, including a deputy warder, were killed and 11 others injured in rioting and subsequent police firing in the central jail in Madras today.

The police opened fire to quell rioting which broke out following the death of a prisoner, Boxer Vadivelu, detained under the Goondas Act, in the general hospital, early today.

The police said the deputy warder was Jayakumar.

Tamil Nadu Law Minister Aladi Aruna and Home Secretary Shanta Sheela Nair visited the jail for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

Sources said nine seriously injured prisoners were admitted to the government general hospital and Kilpauk medical college hospital.

Ten jail warders were also injured in the rioting.

Aruna regretted the incident. He said he would submit all the facts to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi after getting details from prison officials.

He also said that a detailed report on the incident would be tabled in the assembly tomorrow.

Meanwhile, some women relatives of the prisoners staged a dharna in front of the central prison. They, however, dispersed later.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT

Firing in Madras jail to quell rioting

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