Friday, December 23 2005 12:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Describing stay of incarcerated Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Lok Sabha member from Siwan Md Shahabuddin as 'a threat' to jail security, Bhagalpur Central Jail Superintendent has recommended to the state government immediate shifting of the controversial MP to another jail.

Jail Superintendent Vishwanath Prasad in a letter to the Inspector General (Prisons) suggested immediate transfer of Shahabuddin to another jail "in view of security threat to the prison", official sources told sources today (Dec 23, 2005).

"The number of visitors for the MP had been increasing day-by-day, causing inconvenience to the prison authorities in maintaining law and order both inside and outside the prison", Prasad said, adding the threat was also high as several activists of the outlawed Ranvir Sena, a private militia of landlords, were staying in judicial custody in the central jail.

"We are looking into the request of superintendent of Bhagalpur jail", state home department sources said, adding security in and around the jail was further tightened.

Agitated RJD MLAs had disrupted the proceedings of the state assembly early this month alleging that Shahabuddin was "being victimised and getting 'animal-like' behaviour in Bhagalpur prison", a charge which was denied by the Nitish Kumar government. RJD leaders had also charged that the visitors were not allowed to meet the party MP who, they claimed, was lodged 'in a cell out of vendetta'.

Shahabuddin is lodged in Bhagalpur central jail in connection with several criminal cases being probed by the Siwan police.