Jailed former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda on Monday alleged his hand was broken by policemen when he sought good food for the prisoners.
"Poor food is supplied in the jail. I went to general ward to inspect the food and sat on demonstration to protest. I sought good food and my hand was broken by policemen," Koda told reporters as he was being shifted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) for treatment.
Koda's supporters alleged that he was denied good food for last several days. They also alleged he was not served food on time, despite complaints to the jail administration.
According to sources in jail, Koda on Monday went to the general ward to get food. When he went there, chaos prevailed at the meal time and police made a baton-charge at the prisoners to disperse them.
Ranchi Deputy Commissioner K.K. Soan said that the 40-year-old lawmaker, lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail here, was 'beaten up by a couple of prisoners of upper division ward who insisted that he take meal with other inmates'.
"He was admitted to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences with injury in his hand," Soan said. Doctors attending to Koda said that X-ray reports had confirmed a fracture in his right hand. Koda, however, said that he had been assaulted by jail guards.
"We were sitting on a dharna peacefully demanding quality food when jail guards attacked us with lathis. They were beating me as if they wanted to eliminate me. It's a political conspiracy and I demand a judicial probe into the whole incident," Koda told reporters in hospital. IG (Prison) Vijay Kumar has denied Koda's allegations.
Backing the call for a high-level enquiry, Koda's MLA wife Gita said she feared for her husband's life.
"There were some incidents against my husband inside the jail in the recent weeks. Today's incident has left us shattered because how can one beat him up in the high security prison. I fear for his life."
Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai, JMM leader Sudhir Mahato and Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (P) central committee secretary Abhay Singh also demanded enquiry into the incident.
Jharkhand Chief Secretary also S.K. Chaudhary said the incident, which has raised many questions over security of VVIP prisoners, would be probed. Meanwhile, political parties have condemned the incident.
Koda has been in jail since November 2009 in a Rs.4,000 crore money laundering scam. He and four former ministers are kept in a VIP cell of the jail.