Undertrial killing: Delhi govt likely to transfer senior Tihar officials

Concerned over increasing cases of violence inside Tihar Jail, the Delhi government is likely to overhaul the administration setup in the prison. 

According to sources, government is contemplating to transfer senior jail officials after the latest incident in which an undertrial lodged in Tihar was killed last night, allegedly by his cellmates. They said there have been several incidents of violence inside the jail over past few months and the jail administration has failed to check them. "The government is also not convinced with the jail administration's explanations of past incidents sought by the Home Department. "In view of continuing violent incidents inside the prison complex, the government may transfer senior jail officials," the sources said. 

In the incident last night, an undertrial -- identified as Dipak, lodged in the high risk ward, was allegedly beaten with iron rods procured from a window, by four of his cellmates, including a lifer, over a monetary dispute. Deepak was rushed to DDU hospital where he died at around 11.30 PM. Security at the high profile Tihar jail has been a cause of concern off late as police recently busted several extortion rackets being run from the premises in which inmates used mobile phones.

In July this year, Delhi government had suspended a Tihar jail superintendent in connection with the escape of two inmates from the prison. In May also, two convicts including a lifer had died under mysterious circumstances inside the high-security jail.

In April this year, a convict serving his sentence in jail number 1 of Tihar had allegedly been stabbed to death with sharpened spoons by five members of a rival group in a fight.

Yesterday, the central government told Parliament that 32 jail officials have been found allegedly involved in smuggling of prohibited items, including mobile phones and chargers, inside Tihar in the last three years.