HYDERABAD - Seven prisoners were killed and 40 others injured, including an SHO, ASI and constables in a clash with police in the Central Prison here on Tuesday, triggering panic among the residents of nearby areas. According to official sources, the jail administration in collaboration with the district police launched a search operation in the prison after their protest against closure of power and gas and water. The prisoners destroyed various sections of the jail building after which the jail administration made a request for more contingents of police to DPO to control the situation, said the sources, adding that the protesters pelted stones from the rooftops on police team when they entered the prison, injuring SPO (City) Muhammad Ahmed Qureshi, Market SHO Tariq Khanzada, Pinyari SHO Ibrahim Pitafi, the guards of DPO and TPO. In retaliation, the police resorted to teargas shelling and aerial firing, injuring about seven inmates critically, said the sources, adding that they were shifted to hospital where seven inmates died. However, the official sources contradicted the death tolls, saying that four prisoners died and three dead were identified as Ghulam Ali Khaskheli, Abdul Hakeem Mallah and Shafiq Moulana. But, jail sources said seven inmates were killed. After sending back prisoners to their barracks, the police under supervision of DPO Pir Fareed Jan Sarhandi and Central Prison Superintendent Shabbir Jan Sarhandi carried out search operation and recovered a huge number of mobile phones, two shotguns, six pistols, knives, hashish, liquor and other banned things from the prisoners. However, some of prisoners told the media on phone that they staged the protest as the jail administration stopped the supply of electricity, gas and water. After the incident, the activists of Jeay Sindh Quami Muhaz came out on roads in Qasimabad, Nasimnagar, Wehdat Colony and Hussainabad areas where they pelted stones on moving vehicles, burnt tyres, blocked the roads and closed down the business activities in the areas. The prisoners started their protest when Shabbir Sarhandi took the charge of the superintendent of the Central Prison, the sources said, adding that during the meeting with influential prisoners, Shabbir Sarhandi assured them that no search operation would be carried out against the prisoners. The clash triggered panic among the residents of nearby areas including, Qasimabad in Qasimabad, Nasim Nagar, Wehdat Colony and Hussainabad.