Bhopal: Two undertrials were killed and six inmates injured in clashes between two rival groups inside a jail in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat town, police said on Friday.

The trouble began on Thursday evening when Shailesh Nai, accused in several cases of attempt to murder and extortion, was brought back to the jail in Balaghat, about 375 km from here, from a lower court.

"After coming back to the jail, he accused some convicts, owing loyalty to another criminal Hajrat Ali, of stealing his packet of marijuana. A fight broke out between the two groups and convicts used iron rods, lathis and bricks to hit each other, resulting in serious injuries to some undertrials," Balaghat Police Superintendant H C Misra said.

While Shailesh died on the spot, his accomplice Sameer succumbed to his injuries in the district hospital. Among the other six injured, the condition of two is stated to be critical.

A large number of policemen have been deployed in and around the jail to prevent further violence. District Collector Gulshan Bamra has ordered a judicial inquiry into the matter, officials said.

Balaghat district is a Maoist stronghold and security measures inside the jail had been reviewed Thursday afternoon as per the orders of Balaghat Inspector General of Police Avnesh Mangalam.

Source : IANS