NEW DELHI, 25 June 2006 — The Bihar government has decided to install close circuit cameras in the jail cell of Muhammad Shahabuddin, MP, after his Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress party complained that prison authorities in Siwan have not been paying proper attention to the ailing parliamentarian.
The CCTV will ascertain whether the legislator is really critically ill as alleged by the opposition, the state’s home secretary, Afzal Amanullah, told reporters here. There has been a “lot of noise” over Shahabuddin’s condition and the CCTV will give a “fair” idea of that, Amanullah said.
The Siwan MP, in jail in connection with his alleged involvement in over 40 criminal cases, is reportedly seriously ill. The RJD has demanded proper treatment be given to him outside the jail.
The party has also approached the National Human Rights Commission.
The federal government has sought a report on the alleged ill treatment meted of Shahabuddin by prison authorities.
Federal Home secretary V.K. Duggal has asked the Bihar government to provide a comprehensive report after Shahabuddin made the allegations in a letter to the Lok Sabha speaker.
