Cuttack: An under trial prisoner (UTP) of Dhenkanal jail died while undergoing treatment at the SCB medical college and hospital here on Tuesday. The UTP was identified as Pabitra Rout of Bimala village in Dhenkanal district. However, Rout’s son alleged that his father died due to negligence by jail authorities.
Jail sources said, Rout was arrested on charges of a murder case in 2014.
Last month, the UTP was admitted to Dhenkanal district headquarters hospital as he was ill. Later, he was shifted to SCB medical college and hospital as his condition worsened. While undergoing treatment, Rout succumbed to his illness today.
But Rout’s son alleged that they were not informed even though his father was shifted to Cuttack.
“They (jail authorities) only informed us that my father is ill. When we came to see him in Dhenkanal, they said he is under treatment and will be fine soon. If my father was so serious, why they delayed in shifting him from Dhenkanal to Cuttack,” asked Pramod Rout, son of the UTP.
Hospital sources said, after post mortem, the body will be handed over to Rout’s family members tomorrow.
In a related incident, Sanjay Kumar Sukari, an UTP of Puri jail was today shifted to SCB medical college after his condition worsened. Sukari was rushed to Puri district headquarters hospital following pain in chest. Meanhile, family members of Sukari alleged that he was legcuffed while undergoing treatment at Puri hospital.