Jailor responsible for prisoner's death: Probe report

A Goa government-appointed probe panel has indicted Central Jail Aguada jailor and held him responsible for the death of a prisoner, who died due to lack of proper medical treatment.
The inquiry report by additional district magistrate Dipak Desai indicted jailor Vithal Gawas posted at Central Jail Aguada in connection with the death of Mahadev Gaonkar, who was serving a life term.
On May 31, Gaonkar died and 101 other prisoners fell ill after consuming food suspected to be contaminated at Aguada Central Jail in Panaji and sub-jail at Mapusa, about 15 km from here. The food prepared at Aguada prison was served to inmates at Mapusa sub-jail also.

It was alleged that Gaonkar, despite facing acute food poisoning, was not given medical treatment for almost five hours.
According to the inquiry report, submitted earlier this month, the jailor was aware that Gaonkar was critical right from early morning. He breathed his last on way to a primary health centre, after suffering for almost five hours without any medical attention in jail.
The inquiry panel, which was set up to find out the cause of food poisoning and recommend solutions to avoid recurrence of such incidents, has quoted the assistant jailor and lock-up guard who had informed about the prisoner's critical condition.

Assistant Jailor Ramnath Gaude had told the inquiry committee that Gawas did not even bother to enter the prisoner's cell before he was shifted outside.
"All aspects point out flaws committed by officials and the negligence on the part of jail officials on duty, which resulted in Gaonkar's death," the report said.