Wednesday, May 10 2006 12:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Siwan (Bihar): High drama was witnessed at the divisional jail here for several hours late last night as controversial RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was shifted from Bhagalpur Central Jail on May 7, allegedly clashed with the Sub-Divisional Police Officer and some other jail staff who objected to the presence of his supporters in his room.

Speaking to sources on condition of anonymity, official sources said that even blows were exchanged between SDPO Sudhir Kumar and the Siwan MP after the former objected to the presence of a number of his supporters in the room allotted to Shahabuddin allegedly in violation of the jail manual.

"Tempers indeed ran high and there were heated exchanges between the MP and the police and jail staff. I cannot say if blows were exchanged but definitely both sides used stronglanguage against each other and accused each other of wrongdoing," District Magistrate S K Mall told sources when contacted.

He said that the MP complained against the jail administration for not providing him facilities he was entitled to as a grade I prisoner.

"The matter has been sorted out and now there is no bitterness between the involved parties," Mall, who along with the superintendent of police Sunil Kumar spent several hours inside the jail trying to settle the dispute, said.

State Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah in Patna denied that fisticuffs were exchanged.

The incident, according to prison sources, occurred around 10.30 pm last night when a medical board was examining Shahabuddin in his room in the presence of his supporters towhich the jail superintendent objected.

Soon heated arguments started between the jail staff and the high-profile prisoner following which the SDPO was informed about it.

The SDPO too reportedly expressed strong objection to the presence of the MP's supporters in his room and, as tempers ran high, there was a scuffle and a few blows were exchanged, jail sources pleading anonymity said adding that the District Magistrate and SP then rushed to the prison.

A Siwan court had on May 8 asked the district authorities to constitute a medical board to examine the Lok Sabha member, charged with a number of criminal offences, including sedition, who is said to be suffering from a spinal problem.