5 jail officials held hostage by inmates

HERAT CITY (PAN): Hundreds of prisoners on hunger strike at the central jail in western Herat province held five policemen hostage for a third day in a row on Wednesday, officials said.

Around 1,500 inmates in the facility in Herat City, the provincial capital, went on hunger strike on Monday, refusing to talk to local officials and public representatives, jail officials said on condition of anonymity.

They said the striking inmates, who had locked up policemen with them in the first and second blocs, were insisting they would negotiate their demands with central government officials.

Urban Attorney Gul Ahmad Ramesh confirmed the protest entered a third day on Wednesday, saying 1,700 inmates had gone on strike.

Provincial council member Tor Mohammad Zarifi told Pajhwok Afghan News the inmates wanted to be released in compliance with presidential decrees.

He said their other demands included improved living conditions in jail and swift investigations of their cases.

The public representative said the jail had been built with capacity for 3000 inmates, but more than 10,000 individuals were currently being held there.

The jail’s commander, Gen. Abdul Majeed Sadiqi said the provincial government had appointed a delegation to enter direct talks with the striking inmates and find a solution to the issue.

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