Kapurthala Jail Clash: Three Injured as Police Use Tear Gas, Baton Charge to Control Violence

Chandigarh, May 24: Tension gripped Punjab’s Kapurthala Central Jail after a violent clash between inmates triggered chaos inside the prison premises late Saturday night, forcing authorities to use tear gas shells and a baton charge to regain control. Three inmates sustained injuries during the operation, officials confirmed on Sunday.

According to police, the disturbance began inside Block 4 of the jail when a group of inmates allegedly got involved in a heated altercation over an unresolved issue. The exact reason behind the confrontation is still under investigation.

As prison officials attempted to intervene and calm the situation, several inmates reportedly turned aggressive and tried to confront jail personnel. The unrest quickly escalated when some prisoners came out of their barracks and climbed onto the rooftop of the building.

Officials said a few inmates also set clothes on fire during the commotion, creating panic within the high-security prison complex. Following the escalation, additional police teams were rushed to the jail to assist authorities in controlling the situation.

To disperse the agitated inmates and prevent further violence, police used tear gas shells and later carried out a cane charge inside the premises. Two inmates were injured during the baton charge, while another sustained injuries after being struck by a tear gas shell.

Police officials clarified that no jail staff member or security personnel was injured during the incident. Authorities also stated that all inmates were later escorted back to their barracks and a complete headcount was conducted to ensure nobody was missing.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jalandhar Range, Naveen Singla said the situation had been fully brought under control and there was no damage to prison property.

“I have personally inspected the jail premises. The situation is completely normal now and there has been no damage to the infrastructure,” the officer said.

Senior officials, including Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora, reached the jail soon after the disturbance was reported and supervised the security operation.

Meanwhile, several purported videos from inside the prison surfaced on social media showing scenes of chaos and shouting within the jail complex. In some clips, inmates could allegedly be heard accusing authorities of using excessive force during the crackdown. One inmate was also seen displaying visible injuries in a viral video.

Kapurthala jail houses nearly 4,000 inmates, making it one of the major prisons in Punjab.

Reacting to the incident, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging deterioration in prison management across the state.

In a sharp attack on the state administration, Majithia claimed Punjab’s jails were no longer functioning as correctional institutions and had instead become centres of violence and criminal activity under the current government led by Bhagwant Mann.