A row has erupted over the seizure of a copy of the Qur'an from a prisoner serving time in a Calcutta jail even as authorities try to defuse a potentially-explosive situation. The Islamic holy book was seized from a notorious underworld don, Rashid Alam, alias Gabbar, lodged in Presidency jail. Gabbar, prime accused in several murder and extortion cases, is on a hunger strike since Saturday demanding that his copy of the Qur'an be handed back to him.
The prisoner's lawyer, Syed Shahi Imam, described the seizure as "an illegal act by prison authorities" and has threatened to move the West Bengal Human Rights Commission. Prison officials say the Qur'an copy was seized because it was procured illegally in violation of the jail code. Apparently, Gabbar was produced in court last week. On his return, he was frisked by wardens, as per standing instructions. During the search, a copy of the Qur'an and several pan masala and gutka (chewing tobacco) pouches were found and seized. Gabbar demanded that the seized items, particularly the Qur'an, be returned to him. But his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Inspector-General of prisons, Joydeb Chakraborty, said: "There is no problem with a convict or undertrial reading or possessing any holy book inside the jail. But in Gabbar's case, he procured it on the sly without the knowledge of prison authorities. He smuggled in the Qur'an. That's why it was seized." Chakraborty said holy books are supplied on demand to prisoners. Visitors too are free to give them to inmates. "But nothing is permitted without permission of the jailer", he said. |