Davangere: As many as 23 inmates of a special sub-jail fell ill after they were served sub-standard non-vegetarian food and made to drink contaminated water. They were admitted to the district hospital on Monday morning.
Non-vegetarian food was served to the inmates on Friday night. A few inmates complained of stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhoea the same night. But the jail authorities and staff did not take the issue seriously. On Sunday night, some more inmates fell sick.
Treatment by the jail doctor did not yield any result and 23 jail inmates had to be admitted to district hospital. All of them are well and are responding to the treatment, doctors attending on them said. Some patients were discharged on Monday evening, while other will be handed over to jail authorities on Tuesday.
The reason behind the jail inmates falling sick will be known after sending water and food for testing, authorities said. The inmates alleged that they are regularly served substandard food and half-boiled food to save LPG. Water from the borewell on the jail premises is unfit for drinking and it is also used to prepare food, they said. “If we question, the jail staff harass us and threaten to shift us to Ballari or Dharwad jails,” said some inmates.
Denying the allegations, Special Sub-Jail Superintendent Channamma said that the inmates are being served quality food. “The jail gets meat from a trusted contractor,” she said.
