No pillow, no bed for qaidi No 210

JODHPUR: Of the two prisoners lodged in Barrack No 1.5 in Jodhpur central jail, Mahesh Sharma is three inches shorter than the man who moved in on Monday. Sharma, however, is the more notorious one. He has one murder under his belt���which took place somewhere in Barmer a decade ago. Since then, this 132-year-old prison has been home for the lifer. However, since Monday, Sharma's life has been turned upside down as he has become the cellmate of India's most famous prisoner.But Sharma has made space and the two have even exchanged notes���Prisoner No 210, Salman Khan, asking him about his life, how he landed in jail and Sharma eagerly soaking in all he ever wanted to know about films, says jail superintendent Mitthu Lal Chauhan.
Since he was hauled away from court after getting five years for killing the endangered chinkara, Salman has had to share the 40 ft x 30 ft cell, with only a fan for comfort in the 40-degree heat. And until he gets bail or some relief, he'll have to make do with this. On Wednesday, Salman's lawyers will file a plea seeking suspension of the sentence that can ensure his release for the time being.
Away from the world of satin sheets, Salman has also discovered that inmates don't even get pillows���for fear that the suicidal ones may smother themselves. And there's no bed either. As a prisoner, Salman has received three blankets. One he laid out on the floor, the other he used as a pillow. The third was, perhaps, meant to keep the army of mosquitos at bay. It didn't. The Bollywood star complained to authorities on Tuesday about the blood suckers. There is, however, an attached toilet in the barrack for Salman, who is also allowed to wear his own clothes.
The two prisoners have eaten the same food. And, according to jail authorities, beefcake Khan has been tucking in well.
On Monday night, he had his fill of roti and alu-tamatar subzi. For breakfast, he was offered sugarless hot tea and chana, the fare dished out to other prisoners, some of them Kashmiri terrorists. For lunch, he ate roti and dal. The Jodhpur jail has 950 inmates, of which at least 30 are hardcore militants.
Brother Sohail Khan, sister Alvira and lawyer Deepesh Mehta came calling in the afternoon. But as per jail manuals, guests aren't permitted to bring in food. The night menu in the 'dedh barrack' (usually reserved for women) isroti and tamatar-kakri ki subzi. "There are no special facilities for him," says jail superintendent Chauhan.
Despite the dim conditions inside, Salman's presence has lit up Jodhpur jail and his star power was visible. Outside the jail, cops had a difficult time keeping fans at bay. "I'm here to see Salman," said three-year-old Ayushi, barely forming the words.
Salman's plight has angered his supporters in this medieval Rajasthan town. A hundred or so fans protested in front of the jail and were chased away by baton-wielding cops. Among the slogans they shouted were, "Jab tak sooraj chand rahega, Salman tera naam rahega."
Then some made him look like a trade union leader. "Salman tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hain," shouted one. Fan Abdul Wahid said, "He is such a great star and he is in jail. The least we can do is bear a few police lathis for him."
Anger was tinged with disasspointment too. Some of the fans had hoped Salman's lady love Katrina Kaif would turn up, but she didn't.