Scores of inmates and prison staff, including the jailer and deputy jailer were injured in the clash, following which a magisterial probe has been ordered.
Police alleged that the inmates had tried to flee the jail by triggering blast using LPG cylinders. At least eight cylinders were kept in the kitchen, which the prisoners intended to use to break out of the jail, they said.
"Had they been successful in their plan, hundreds of inmates would have escaped from the jail today," SSP Meerut Satya Narayan said here.
In addition to police, PAC and RAF jawans have been rushed to the jail to control the situation, he added.
The trouble started at around 7 AM today with a clash between inmates and prison staff started in barrack number 6. Soon the inmates of other barracks too attacked the jail staff.
The jail guards had to open fire to control the situation.
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The annoyed inmates tried to break the main gate and even resorted to brick-batting on the DM and the SSP, sources said.
"The clash today began after some prisoners started beating the jail officials. The rioting prisoners also set ablaze the common mess using gas cylinders from the kitchen," District Magistrate Vikas Gotalwal said.