Bathinda, February 17
Manoj Kumar, an undertrial in the local central jail, has been admitted to hospital after he was allegedly beaten up by some inmates and a member of the medical staff on the night of February 15.

Manoj Kumar, who has been under- going treatment at the civil hospital here, told TNS that some inmates started beating him up without any fault of his.

He said for the past five years, he had been undergoing treatment and taking an injection daily. He said he was shifted to a separate cell from his barrack after he was beaten up.

He said he was taken to a hospital located on the jail premises following pain in his legs.

He said he was again beaten up there and left with a swollen eye. He said he was caught by about 10 persons and they put a pipe inside his stomach through the mouth.

Civil hospital sources said Manoj Kumar was sent to hospital by the Judicial Magistrate after he (Manoj Kumar) was produced before him for medical examination.

Manoj Kumar said he was brought to court of the Judicial Magistrate in connection with the hearing of a case.

During the course of the proceedings, he narrated the story to the Judicial Magistrate, who sent him to the civil hospital for examination.

He said he was beaten up as he had not given his radio to an inmate. The other reason why he was thrashed was that he had nabbed an undertrial when he was running away from the custody of policemen after putting chillies in their eyes.

He also said that a member of the medical staff had been demanding money from him for supplying injections.

Mr Gurdial Singh, Deputy Superintendent Jail, said he was ignorant of the incident.

After an hour, when he was again contacted, he claimed his investigation revealed that Manoj Kumar was not beaten up.

The pipe was put in his stomach to take out acid from it. Manoj Kumar had deliberately punched himself in the eye.