Jail suicide: Man had killed police informer

An undertrial inmate who died inside the Arthur Road prison on Monday had killed a police informer in Andheri a year ago. The police said Sabirali Shaikh, 26, hanged himself and tha the was mentally challenged.

According to the police, Shaikh’s brother-in-law had stolen scrap material from Niphad area in Nashik and was on the run when tip-off by a scrap dealer led to his arrest from Vasai.

Shaikh then on February 3, 2017 called the informer and his men to a godown in Andheri to settle few issues. However, he got into an argument with the informer. Shaikh then turned violent and brutally assaulted the informer and his men after locking them in a room resulting in the death of the informer. 

The police then arrested Shaikh and his brother-in-law. Shaikh was lodged in Tihar Jail since then. After Shaikh’s arrest, jail officials said he had been undergoing psychiatric treatment.  

Officials said Shaikh tore a strip from a bedsheet and used it to hang himself from the door of his cell. It was apparently 4am. Shaikh’s suicide came to light after one of the guards spotted his body hanging. Cops said a case has been registered.