The inmates went on the rampage this morning after two of their prison mates were allegedly beaten up by guards at Varanasi district jail at Chowkaghat in the Cantonment police station area.
The superintendent of the district jail was taken hostage while as its inmates today clashed with staff and took control of a section of the prison barracks.
Jail Superintendent Ashish Tiwari was taken hostage by the inmates, who were unhappy over several issues, including the "poor quality" of food served at the prison, at around 9:30 am, they said.
However, Mr Tiwari was freed after seven hours in captivity at around 4:30 pm following talks with the inmates.
The inmates went on the rampage this morning after two of their prison mates were allegedly beaten up by guards at Varanasi district jail at Chowkaghat in the Cantonment police station area, police sources said.
The prisoners took control of a portion of the jail barracks and locked it from inside, they said. As the inmates clashed with jail officials, Deputy Jail Superintendent Ajay Rai received serious injuries while several prison guards, too, were assaulted, they said.
A large police team was deployed in and around the prison. District Magistrate Raj Mani Yadav and senior prison department officials went to the jail to deal with the situation, the sources said, adding that a National Disaster Response Force team was dispatched to the prison.
Also, the District Magistrate called some of the local Samajwadi party leaders to mediate and free the jail official. Additional District Magistrate (City) Vindhyavasini Rai said the Jail Superintendent Ashish Tiwari who was taken hostage by the jail inmates was freed after holding talks with the inmates.
Both the Jail Superintendent and Deputy Jail Superintendent were replaced with immediate effect following a demand by jail inmates.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by the District Magistrate to probe into this entire incident.