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Judicial inquiry ordered into Madras jail riot

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today announced in the state assembly that a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge would be ordered into yesterday's incident in the Madras central jail, in which nine prisoners were killed in police firing and a deputy jailer burnt alive following rioting and arson.

Replying to the two-and-a-half hour debate on the adjournment motion initiated by the leader of the opposition S Balakrishnan (Tamil Maanila Congress) and several other party leaders, Karunanidhi announced a compensation of Rs 800,000 to the family of deputy jailer Jayakumar and an ex-gratia payment of Rs 100,000 each to the families of the nine prisoners.

He said the condition of two other inmates, injured in the incident, was critical. He revealed that whoever succumbed to injuries would be paid compensation.

Balakrishnan, who demanded that the state government own responsibility for the incident and that Law Minister Aladi Aruna should resign, led his party members to stage a walkout following the rejection of his demands.

Karunanidhi said although there had been violent incidents in the state's jails in the past, the government was sorry for yesterday's incident, which was condemnable.

Stating that the government had earlier recommended deputy jailer Jayakumar's name for the President's medal, he said the chief minister's medal for valour would be presented to him posthumously on the next Republic Day.

Jayakumar's next of kin will be given a job by the government and his family will be able to avail of his full salary till his normal retirement year.

Karunanidhi said his government would never shy away from a judicial probe into any matter that required deeper investigation and recalled that the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government had ordered an inquiry by the revenue divisional officer into the death of over 50 people during the Mahamaham tank festival at Kumbakonam, in which then chief minister J Jayalalitha had participated.

Stating that the government would not be vindictive against those who indulged in rioting and murder, he said action would be taken only according to the law as suggested by the various speakers debating the question in the assembly.

UNI

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