Prisoner 'murdered' inside Choudwar jail; officials rule out ‘gang war’

Cuttack: An under-trial prisoner died after he was attacked with an iron rod by another inmate inside Choudwar circle jail today. The deceased has been identified as Ramesh Pradhan of Tulsipur area in Cuttack.

As per reports, Ramesh was working in the jail garden at around 9:30 AM along with 42 other inmates when he was attacked by one Jalander Samal, a murder convict lodged in the jail. Surprisingly, the incident occurred in presence of some jail warders and other inmates.

Following the incident, Ramesh was rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. However, he was declared brought dead by the doctors there.

The family members, on the other hand, alleged Ramesh’s death as a conspiracy inside the jail. “The cops informed that my son has been admitted to the hospital. When we reached, he had already died. There is some conspiracy and we suspect the involvement of jail officials and other inmates in the murder,” alleged mother of the deceased.

Ramesh’s brother Ravindra Pradhan said, “We suspect something fishy as my brother’s body carried injury marks on neck and head.”

Cuttack DCP Akhileswar Singh said, “Prima facie it appears that the inmate died after being attacked by another inmate. Though jail warders and other inmates were also present, they could not save him.”

Statements of eyewitnesses will be recorded for further action, Singh added.

Terming the prisoner’s death as the fallout of some dispute between two inmates, ADG, Prisons Mahendra Pratap stated that the incident is not related to any gang war inside the jail. He further informed that around 42 convicts were working in the jail garden when an altercation broke out between Ramesh and  Jalander Samal.

“Following the altercation, Samal attacked Ramesh in which he sustained injuries on neck. Ramesh was immediately rushed to SCB Medical College and Hospital but he was declared brought dead,” said Pratap.