Who beat up Madhu Koda? Jail staff or inmates

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda was today injured after he was assaulted in a Ranchi jail where he is in judicial custody in connection with a muti-crore scam, but there were conflicting versions on who beat him up.

Deputy Commissioner KK Soan said the MP was beaten up by inmates of Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, but Koda, who was admitted to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, alleged that the jail staff had attacked him when he went to “check the quality of food”.

“The inmates of upper division ward insisted that he take meal with others and when he had gone there, a couple of prisoners beat him up,” Soan said, adding Koda suffered injuries in his hand.

At the hospital, Koda, who represents Chaibasa constituency in Lok Sabha, alleged that the jail administration was behind the incident as he had complained against the quality of food provided to them.

“When I went to check the quality of food, I was attacked by jail staff,” Koda said.

Earlier, a senior jail official said Koda sprained his hand after a fall during a scuffle inside the jail.

His wife Gita Koda, MLA, alleged it was a conspiracy against her husband and demanded an inquiry. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM-Prajatantrik) also demanded a high-level enquiry into the incident. “Koda is not an ordinary person, but a former chief minister of the state and the assault on him is tantamount to an attack on the democratic set up,” JMM leader Sudhir Mahto said.

Koda was arrested on 30 November 2009 in connection with the multi-crore scam during his tenure.

PTI

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