Woman prisoner dies, inmates blame constables

Mumbai: A woman inmate at the Byculla women’s prison died after women constables allegedly assaulted her inside jail on Friday. After the alleged assault, she suffered a heart attack.

In order to make announcements, in English to pacify the women inmates, the police took help of Sheena Bora murder accused Indrani Mukherjee, who is lodged in the Byculla prison.

The incident occurred in the afternoon on Friday when Manju Shetye alias Deepa, was slapped inside the prison. The reason behind the alleged assault is still unknown. The inmate, in her mid-forties, was rushed her to the J.J. Hospital on Friday evening, where she was declared dead.

The death of the inmate sparked protests in the women’s prison. Prisoners went to the top of the building and shouted slogans demanding justice. A system was arranged to make announcements, asking the inmates to maintain restrain. The women inmates, however, broke wooden chairs and set them on fire but situation was controlled by the prison authorities.

An enquiry has been ordered and senior authorities and officers from Nagpada police station are examining the jail premises.

Shetye was imprisoned in connection with a 2004 murder case. She and her mother, who passed away recently, were arrested for murdering a relative. Shetye was lodged in Yerawada prison in Pune for over a decade and was shifted to Byculla a couple of months ago, officials said. “Situation in the prison is peaceful now. We will put six jail staff under suspension for dereliction of duty,” said Mr Upadhyay.