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7 deaths in 7 days in Tihar; Delhi govt, NHRC launch probe

The spectre of death continues to haunt Tihar Jail, with a warden succumbing to TB, taking the number of deaths in the prison to seven in as many days.

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NEW DELHI: There seems to be no end to the spate of deaths in Tihar Jail, with a seventh death reported in the prison today in as many days, as the Delhi Government and the NHRC launched separate probes in the matter.

Acting on a PIL, the Delhi High Court also sought explanation from the city administration and the jail authorities about the deaths.

Man Singh (58), a head warden, died on Tuesday night at his quarters inside the jail. He had been under treatment for tuberculosis for the last several years, prison officials informed.

Earlier, six prisoners had died in as many days in the jail.

Delhi Government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the prison deaths and will investigate them in detail, Chief Secretary R Narayanaswamy said.

The inquiry will involve checking in detail the section of law under which the inmates were detained, period spent under police custody and medical reports to determine the nature and course of medical treatment given to them.

"It is a matter of concern for us that prisoners are dying almost daily in Tihar. Additional District Magistrate of West District has been asked to inquire into the matter and submit report by June 25," Narayanaswamy said.

The magisterial inquiry will also review the need for improving infrastructure such as supply of drinking water and sanitation in the jail premises.

The NHRC will soon send an investigation team to Tihar Jail to probe the deaths, a Commission spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, around 15 inmates suffering from various diseases are admitted in the jail hospital at present, prison officials said.

They denied reports about the bodies of two of the inmates bearing injury marks.

The sudden spate of deaths has prompted the jail administration to carry out daily medical check-ups of the prisoners and install coolers and exhaust fans to beat the scorching summer.

Two deaths were reported on Tuesday. While Vinod Kumar, an alcoholic, died in the jail hospital in the morning, a convict identified as Santosh died later in the day at the DDU hospital where he was admitted on June 4.

According to government figures, Tihar is bursting at its seams with a population of nearly 12,500 inmates far exceeding the sanctioned capacity of 5,000.

It is also grappling with a daunting health hazard --drug abuse -- as around ten per cent of inmates are drug addicts.

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