COVID19 scare in Kolkata: One dead as inmates of Dum Dum central jail go on rampage, torch jail properties, clash with police

According to reports, being upset over stalled court hearings and suspension on meeting family members amid Covid-19 outbreak, a group of Dum Dum jail's under-trial convicts engaged in a clash with the prisoners and when prison-guards tried to intervene to bring the situation under control, they attacked the security personnel, ransacked jail properties and torched a portion of the correctional home.

They also reportedly pelted stones aiming at cops, leaving at least eight policemen, including the jailer, hurt.

Later, a heavy police force rushed the scene and police restored to lathicharge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the attacking inmates.

Few fire tenders also reached the spot and firemen fought for an hour to douse the blaze.

Meanwhile, local sources claimed that few rounds of bullets were fired during the hour-long clash, though police denied any report of gunshot at the area.

However, senior police officials said that few inmates as well as policemen were seriously injured in the clash while an investigation had been initiated into the incident.

Sources in the police said that a search operation was underway inside the jail campus.

Days ago, West Bengal Correctional Services department directed that no inmates of all correctional homes across the state could not meet their family members till Mar 13 in the wake of coronavirus pandemic while the regular court trials are on suspension in West Bengal till Mar 25 as a precautionary measure against the spread of Covid-19.