His death, just five days after entering the Muzaffarnagar District Jail , has led to demands for an investigation from family members, who claim he was subjected to mistreatment.
MUZAFFARNAGAR: The death of a 26-year-old undertrial prisoner inside Muzaffarnagar District Jail has sparked controversy, with his family alleging harassment, assault and illegal demands for money inside the prison. Jail authorities, however, have denied the allegations, maintaining that the undertrial died following an illness.
The deceased, Adil, a resident of Khera Kurtan village in Shamli district’s Kandhla area, was lodged in Muzaffarnagar District Jail on June 20 after being remanded to judicial custody in connection with a case registered under rape and POCSO Act provisions.
His death, just five days after entering the jail, has prompted his family to demand an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The family was informed of Adil’s death on Friday, following which relatives rushed to the district hospital. Expressing shock and anger, they accused jail authorities of failing to ensure his safety.
According to family members, Adil had repeatedly complained during jail visits that he was being harassed and subjected to pressure inside the prison.
“My son repeatedly told us that he was being harassed,” his father, Salim, alleged. “Every time we met him, he spoke about the difficulties he was facing inside the jail.”
The family also alleged that jail staff demanded ₹10,700 from them on June 25 to get Adil’s “number cut”—a term commonly used in prisons to refer to adjustments in prisoner duties or barrack arrangements.
“We had to mortgage jewellery from our home to arrange the amount,” Salim claimed.
He further alleged that a police officer posted at Kandhla police station had repeatedly demanded money and threatened his son before he was sent to jail.
“We thought he would be safe in jail,” Salim said. “Instead, he allegedly faced further harassment and ultimately lost his life.”
The allegations have intensified calls for an impartial inquiry into the undertrial’s death.
Rejecting the family’s claims, Jailer Neeraj Srivastava said Adil had been suffering from health issues and had received timely medical treatment.
“He complained of stomach pain on June 24 and was admitted to the jail hospital for treatment,” Srivastava said.
The jail administration denied allegations of assault, harassment or extortion, asserting that medical records and other evidence would establish the actual circumstances leading to the death.
The incident has once again drawn attention to conditions inside prisons and the treatment of undertrial prisoners, who constitute a significant proportion of India’s prison population.
Legal experts say custodial deaths often raise concerns about accountability and transparency, making independent investigations essential to establish the facts.
The exact cause of Adil’s death remains unclear. While his family continues to demand a thorough probe, prison authorities maintain that adequate medical care was provided.
The findings of the post-mortem examination and any judicial or departmental inquiry are expected to determine whether the family’s allegations have merit or whether the death resulted solely from medical causes, as claimed by jail officials.
