Angul: An undertrial prisoner lodged in Angul jail died at the district headquarters hospital here while undergoing treatment for diabetes Monday.
He was identified as Sraban Kumar Pradhan of Madhapur village under Bantala police limits. He was accused of raping a girl and subsequently bludgeoning her to death.
Pradhan’s death flared up widespread protests as family members and jail inmates staged a sit-in outside the jail.
Family members suspecting the role of jail authorities in Pradhan’s death alleged that they were never informed neither about his illness nor his death. His mother Sushma Pradhan lodged a complaint against the jail authorities in Angul police station.
The jail inmates were equally vocal against the jail authorities and demanded a high-level probe into the incident. They demanded Rs 20 lakh as compensation for the bereaved family, arrest of the jail doctor, transfer of the jail superintendent and probe into the alleged serving of substandard food to inmates.
They relented after collector Anil Kumar Samal, SP Rajesh Pandit, MLA Rajnikanta Singh and other senior officials reached the spot and managed to placate them. It was learnt that the jail inmates tried to pelt stones at the senior officials but no one was hurt. Police handed over the body to the family members after conducting a post-mortem.
Pradhan was arrested May 21, 2012 on the charge of raping a 25-year-old girl and later bludgeoning her to death May 15, 2012.
Pradhan was found suffering from diabetes a few months back. His health condition failed to recover despite being provided with treatment inside the jail. He was finally admitted to the district headquarters hospital after his condition deteriorated.
When contacted, jail superintendent Janardan Mallick rejected the claims of neglecting Pradhan and said necessary treatment was provided to him while his family members were also informed after his death. PNN