Tuesday, December 6 2005 17:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhagalpur: Contrary to the claims of the Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi and RJD, who created a pandemonium in the Bihar assembly yesterday (December 6, 2005) over maltreatment to their MP Md Shahabuddin, the jailed Siwan strongman is enjoying facilities like TV, carom board and journals at the Bhagalpur central prison.

Sources in the Bhagalpur jail, on condition of anonymity, contradicted the charge that Shahabuddin had been lodged in a cell and was being treated like an -animal- as said the high-prisoner was availing of all facilities as prescribed in the jail manual in accordance with his stature.

The sources said that Shahabuddin was lodged in a separate ward of the prison and not a cell as alleged and regularly provided with magazine and books available in the jail library, the sources said, adding the MP spends his time reading and penning down something.

He has also been given a TV and a carom board for entertainment and is keeping himself abreast of developments taking place outside the confines of the prison, the sources said.

The sources said the MP had a wooden bed, quilt, bed sheet, pillow, blanket and mosquito net. A lantern and a petromax were also provided in case there was a power cut.

Incidentally, lantern also happens to be RJD's election symbol. Shahabuddin is fed both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food cooked in a separate kitchen, the sources said, adding the MP prefers plain 'roti' and vegetables.

The MP, who was on November 11 remanded to judicial custody for six months, has been provided with shoe, slipper and lungi, the jail sources said.