Berhampore: Jail inmate succumbs to injuries in custody

Berhampore: Mystery has shrouded the death of a prisoner in the judicial custody. The deceased, Gour Das (30), succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Murshidabad Medical College Hospital (MMCH) early Sunday.

His family members complained that he was beaten to death but the police and jail authorioties tried to cover it up. According to them, they were informed about his death after the post-mortem. Gour died at around 12.01 am.

Inspector-in-Charge of the Berhampore police station Sanat Das said that Gour's wife Mousumi lodged a complaint against him of torturing her. On August 15 midnight the police arrested Gour after an warant was issued against him.

Next day he was remanded by the court in the judicial custody. Gour was lodged at the Berhampore Central Correctional Home. Gour's elder brother Babusona Das, a fish-trader at Kagra Natun Bazar, alleged that his brother was fit.

He claimed that the family was in dark about his admission to the hospital from the jail. Berhampore Central Correctional Home superintendent T.R. Bhutia said that Gour, a drug-addict, fell ill after he was brought to the prison on August 16.

He was admitted at the jail hospital where his condition detoriated for which he was referred to the MMCH. Mr Bhutia added that the prison authorities informed the Berhampore police station about it through radiogram due to infrastructural problem.

He informed that the post-mortem was conducted in presence of an executive magistrate according to human rights guidelines. On Monday, the police handed over Gour's body to his family. Babusona said they verbally complained about mysterious death.