Jails in India are supposedly some of the most humane. Here, inmates learn yoga; they are encouraged to pursue a skill. And, the jail administration helps them market their products, which range from baked goods to designer clothes.
Tihar Jail, the country's largest prison complex, however, seems to have a seamy, dark underbelly.
Early this morning, hours before Ram Singh, principal accused in the December 16 Delhi gang-rape case, was to be produced in court, he hanged himself in his cell, which he shared with three others. None of his cell mates, however, saw or heard anything.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde admitted the suicide was a major security lapse on the part of the jail administration. He has ordered an inquiry into the matter.
In 1995, Singapore-based biscuit baron Rajan Pillai died in custody in Tihar, owing to complications following cirrhosis. In 2011, Delhi High Court Judge S Muralidhar had, in his order on the case, slammed the government for poor management of Tihar. "He (Rajan) was kept in deplorable conditions, without any access to proper medical treatment, leading to a rapid deterioration of his health. An incorrect diagnosis by the medical staff at the jail led to the administration of drugs that were not appropriate to his medical condition," Muralidhar said.
Adding: "The basic minimum right to life and dignity should be available to every prisoner. When that minimum standard is breached, the principle of strict liability should be invoked against the jail authorities, making them answerable to law for the consequences of such a breach."
Besides compensation from the state, the court had also sought large-scale reforms in Tihar. "The government will, within a period of three months, purchase for exclusive use by Tihar Jail an ambulance comparable with the best available in the country, as well as a team of dedicated medical personnel and trained staff," the court said. It had awarded Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Pillai's wife, Nina.
In Singh's case, questions are being raised on why more care wasn't taken, especially when it was clear Singh and the other co-accused in the case were withdrawn, depressed and had stopped interacting with other inmates - signs of suicidal tendencies.
Reacting to the incident, the father of the rape victim's male companion (who was also attacked during the crime), said the accused had committed suicide as he knew what awaited him. "He was a criminal. He knew there was no escape. After the trial started, they faced their guilt and were ostracised. He knew he would be hanged. He did what he thought was inevitable... It would not affect the case," he said.
Yet, many feel justice hasn't been done. Singh's mother, Kalyani Devi, told news agencies her son had shown her evidence he had been tortured since his arrest, including "slash marks" on his body. "He made a mistake. He admitted that to us. But even God forgives one mistake," she said, adding, "He wasn't even given a chance to repent."
Singh's lawyer, V K Anand, said the death should be treated as murder. "My client did not commit suicide. I was in touch with him on a daily basis… If he had committed suicide, he would have left a suicide note. I demand an independent probe… There is no CCTV footage to prove he committed suicide. He was tortured so many times in the last two months," he told agencies. The jail administration has decided to offer counselling to the other co-accused in the gang-rape case. It is not clear how the suicide would alter the outcome of the case.
Tihar Jail, the country's largest prison complex, however, seems to have a seamy, dark underbelly.
Early this morning, hours before Ram Singh, principal accused in the December 16 Delhi gang-rape case, was to be produced in court, he hanged himself in his cell, which he shared with three others. None of his cell mates, however, saw or heard anything.
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Singh's family said he and his brother, Mukesh (in the same jail), had complained they were sodomised and attacked with blades by other inmates. His father, Mangelal, said Singh had been murdered.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde admitted the suicide was a major security lapse on the part of the jail administration. He has ordered an inquiry into the matter.
In 1995, Singapore-based biscuit baron Rajan Pillai died in custody in Tihar, owing to complications following cirrhosis. In 2011, Delhi High Court Judge S Muralidhar had, in his order on the case, slammed the government for poor management of Tihar. "He (Rajan) was kept in deplorable conditions, without any access to proper medical treatment, leading to a rapid deterioration of his health. An incorrect diagnosis by the medical staff at the jail led to the administration of drugs that were not appropriate to his medical condition," Muralidhar said.
Adding: "The basic minimum right to life and dignity should be available to every prisoner. When that minimum standard is breached, the principle of strict liability should be invoked against the jail authorities, making them answerable to law for the consequences of such a breach."
Besides compensation from the state, the court had also sought large-scale reforms in Tihar. "The government will, within a period of three months, purchase for exclusive use by Tihar Jail an ambulance comparable with the best available in the country, as well as a team of dedicated medical personnel and trained staff," the court said. It had awarded Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Pillai's wife, Nina.
In Singh's case, questions are being raised on why more care wasn't taken, especially when it was clear Singh and the other co-accused in the case were withdrawn, depressed and had stopped interacting with other inmates - signs of suicidal tendencies.
Reacting to the incident, the father of the rape victim's male companion (who was also attacked during the crime), said the accused had committed suicide as he knew what awaited him. "He was a criminal. He knew there was no escape. After the trial started, they faced their guilt and were ostracised. He knew he would be hanged. He did what he thought was inevitable... It would not affect the case," he said.
Yet, many feel justice hasn't been done. Singh's mother, Kalyani Devi, told news agencies her son had shown her evidence he had been tortured since his arrest, including "slash marks" on his body. "He made a mistake. He admitted that to us. But even God forgives one mistake," she said, adding, "He wasn't even given a chance to repent."
Singh's lawyer, V K Anand, said the death should be treated as murder. "My client did not commit suicide. I was in touch with him on a daily basis… If he had committed suicide, he would have left a suicide note. I demand an independent probe… There is no CCTV footage to prove he committed suicide. He was tortured so many times in the last two months," he told agencies. The jail administration has decided to offer counselling to the other co-accused in the gang-rape case. It is not clear how the suicide would alter the outcome of the case.