5 Muslim men accuse jailor of shaving their beard in jail, Owaisi says 'custodial torture'

Five Muslim men arrested for an offence have alleged that a Rajgarh district jail officer forced them to shave their beards following which a senior Madhya Pradesh prison official on Wednesday said a probe was on into the matter.

Rajgarh's district prison jailor S N Rana, who was accused by the men, said there may be a possibility that their beards were shaved on their own request as such arrangements are in place in the jail.

He added that everyone in jail has the freedom to keep beard and hair according to their own faith and belief.

The five men - Kalim Khan, Talib Khan, Arif Khan, Salman Khan alias Bhola and Wahid Khan - were sent to the district jail on September 13 after being arrested under Indian Penal Code Section 151 (disturbing public peace).

They were released on September 15.

Meanwhile, calling the act a 'custodial torture' All India Majlid-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi demanded that instead of an enquiry into the incident, the jail officer should be suspended and put behind bars for this 'inhuman behaviour'.

Owaisi also cited the manual of Home Ministry saying that all prisoners are allowed to practice their faith without any interference from the authorities.

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The AIMIM chief said that the five men should have been granted bail in the police station itself for the IPC they were booked under instead they were sent to jail.

Condemning the incident, Congress MLA Arif Masood also approached Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra along with the five men.

Masood accused the jail authorities of forcing the five men to shave their beards and demanded action against the jail authorities.

He alleged that these men were also abused in the jail. Masood later said Mishra assured him of action in the matter.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Jails, M R Patel said nothing can be said as of now as a probe is underway into the matter and information will be shared after completion of the investigation.

with PTI inputs