undertrial dies in Bihar's jail, third in a week
PATNA, May 31 -- An undertrial prisoner died under mysterious circumstances at Vaishali Divisional Jail on Friday, just two days after he was lodged there on charges of selling liquor, police said.
Following the incident, an angry mob, including family members of the deceased, went on a rampage at the Hajipur-Mahnar state highway. They blocked the road, disrupted vehicular traffic, and attacked the police team. Heavy police deployment was later called in to restore normalcy. Family members alleged a conspiracy behind the prisoner's death.
The deceased has been identified as Ashok Choudhary (54), a resident of Fatehpur Kamali under the jurisdiction of Mahnar police station.
Earlier, it was reported that Choudhary had complained of stomach and back pain and was taken to the hospital on May 29. After receiving medication, he was brought back to jail as his condition stabilised. However, in the midnight hours of May 29-30, he again complained of severe body pain and was taken to the hospital, where he died during treatment, an official said.
Family members alleged that Choudhary was harassed and tortured by some jail officials for money. They raised slogans against the jail administration, demanding the immediate removal of the jail superintendent and strict action against those responsible for Choudhary's death. When police tried to disperse the protestors, some of them caught an ASI, Pratap Kumar, and manhandled him in full public view.
Mahnar sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Pravin Kumar said that Ashok was facing three separate cases under the Excise Act and had been absconding. He was arrested on May 27 and sent to judicial custody. The SDPO added that an unnatural death case would be registered at the concerned police station. "The exact cause of death will be ascertained only after the postmortem report is available," he said.
Vaishali District Magistrate has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident....
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