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“One death every two days in Bihar jails”

Patna: With nearly one death taking place every second day last year, the jails in Bihar are fast turning into terror houses suggesting all was not well within these high-walled fortresses supposed to serve as reformatories.

According to official figures, 180 prisoners died across the state in 2007 - almost one death every two days.

IG (prisons) Sandeep Paundrik said the state accounted for 205 custodial deaths in jails in 2005, 175 the following year, 180 in 2007 and 56 in the first four months of the current year.

Mr. Paundrik denied involvement of jail officials in any of these deaths, saying the prison officials never applied ‘third degree’ methods while dealing with the inmates as the amended CrPC mandated magisterial inquiry into all cases of custodial deaths.

Referring to the high number of such deaths in Bihar, which has 54 jails, he attributed these mainly to the age factor and admitted that congestion and poor civic amenities resulted in the poor health of the inmates.

“Over 44,000 prisoners are lodged in 54 jails having the capacity to accommodate only 24,500 people. Over 1,400 prisoners are over the age of 70 and suffering from different diseases requiring frequent medical check-ups and regular monitoring,” he said.

There was also acute shortage of doctors and para-medical staff, IG (prisons) said adding while there were only 45 doctors against the sanctioned strength of 65, in several jails there were no para-medical staff. - PTI

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