The Hindu : National : Undertrial done to death inside jail

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Thursday, Dec 13, 2007
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National

Undertrial done to death inside jail

Special Correspondent

Magisterial inquiry ordered

Jail doctor, deputy jailor and three warders suspended
The deceased was lodged in jail on December 2

LUCKNOW: In the first incident of its kind in the Lucknow district jail, an undertrial was pummelled to death by a murder accused early on Wednesday.

The jail doctor on duty, the deputy jailor and three warders were placed under suspension and a magisterial inquiry has been ordered. Departmental action has been initiated against the jailor.

The accused, Naurang Singh, a resident of Nagram area in Lucknow district, was incarcerated on November 4, 2006 on charges of murder under Section 302 of IPC, committed in the Krishnanagar police station area of the State capital. The deceased, Om Prakash of Bahraich district, was lodged in the jail on December 2, 2007.

Special Secretary of the State Home Department G.K. Tandon said here that the accused was of unstable mind and was under observation in the isolation ward of the jail for the last one month. However, in the intervening night of December 11and December 12, Naurang Singh was shifted to the general barrack by the officiating jail doctor, Prem Prakash. He was deputising for the main doctor who was on leave, the Home official added.

At around 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday, Naurang Singh smashed the undertrial’s head with a brick while he was asleep. He was pronounced dead at the District Hospital.

The State Government suspended Dr. Prem Prakash, the deputy jailor, Shashi Bhushan Verma, head warder, Tirath Ram Mishra and warders, Ram Pal Gautam and Ram Murti Savita, and ordered departmental action against the jailor, R.P. Singh. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by the Lucknow District Magistrate, Chandra Bhanu. A case has been filed against the accused in the Alambagh police station.

Sources in the police department said that Naurang Singh had committed two murders earlier.

The deceased, whose local address was given to be Ramjas Ka Haata under the Cantonment police station area, was arrested by the Hazratganj police on December 2 on allegedly false charges of theft and illegal possession of arms. He was sent to jail under Section 25 of the Arms Act.

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