Agra, September 25
At least five prisoners of the Agra District Jail were injured in clashes that erupted after an inmate allegedly committed suicide this morning, complaining of torture.
The body of the inmate, Kuldeep, was found hanging from the ceiling of his barrack around 4.30 a.m.
In a separate incident, another prisoner, Aslam, also died at the jail hospital under “mysterious
circumstances.”
In his suicide note, Kuldeep had alleged torture by jail staff and doctors. He claimed the inmates were denied food and the prison had transformed into a safe haven for drug peddlers.
The twin deaths sparked violent protests from prison inmates, who hurled bricks and stones on the jail and security personnel.
The police resorted to
firing several rounds in the air and use of force to control them.
The inmates are observing a fast against the alleged
atrocities by the prison administration. Agra District Magistrate Sanjay Prasad had ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and said the report would be submitted within a fortnight.
He also suspended Jailor S.S. Chauhan and two deputy jailors.
The police had to resort to lathicharge to control a mob, that had collected outside the prison and was allegedly trying to gatecrash. Several in the mob sustained injuries in the incident. The mob comprised the deceased prisoners’ kin and locals protesting the ‘’autocratic attitude’’ of the jail authorities.
— UNI
