Jailhouse rocks for semi-final

Mumbai: On a day the whole nation will be glued to the idiot box and special screens, the under-trials at the Arthur Road prison, too, will not feel left out of the cricket frenzy.

They will be rooting and cheering for their teams during the big clash today, as all the television sets installed in jail barracks will air the match live.

However, the sole convict of the 26/11 terror attack on the city, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, the only Pakistani within the jail who was included in the National Census, cannot see the match.

He is lodged in a high-security, bullet-proof cell in the high-security jail, especially built for him, where there is no TV.

"He does not even know that India and Pakistan are clashing for the World Cup final," said Dhamne.

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In all, there are 12 TV sets installed in various barracks within the high-security prison. All of 29 inches, barrack numbers 6 and 7 have four of them each, while number 3, 8 and 11 have two sets each.

The barracks, which house convicts of different crimes (see box), will be vibrating with activity, officials said.

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"All the prisoners are excited and rooting for India to win," said Rajendra Dhamne, senior superintendent, Arthur Road jail. "They are all hoping for a thrilling clash," he added.

Each barrack lodges around 350-odd prisoners and they will be jostling for space, and a better view of the TV.

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Officials said that the atmosphere within the prison will be electric, with inmates clapping, whistling, and cheering.

On normal days, between 2.30 pm and 5.30 pm, prisoners are allowed to leave their barracks. But today is different. "Almost all of them will stay in and watch the match," said a jail official.

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Qasab, on the other hand, does not have access to TV in his cell, every corner of which has CCTV cameras to monitor all his movements round-the-clock.

Incidentally, the court has granted him permission to read the Quran and a few other Urdu books given to him by his lawyer.

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There are others like him, like alleged tax defaulter Hasan Ali Khan, who will not be allowed to watch the match. But sources said they are likely to request authorities to view the match.