Undertrial hangs self with shoelace in prison

A 25-year-old hotel staffer, who was arrested on Saturday for allegedly attempting to murder his girlfriend’s sister, committed suicide at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in the wee hours of Sunday.

Rajesh Mukhiya, a native of Darjeeling, was found hanging in the prison toilet and had apparently used his shoelace to take the extreme step. The jail officials immediately rushed Mukhiya to Victoria Hospital, where doctors pronounced him ‘brought dead’.

Mukhiya was arrested on Saturday when he tried to kill his girlfriend’s sister, Savitha Rai, who had reportedly intervened to resolve a dispute between Mukhiya and his girlfriend. The police said Mukhiya had recently been to his native place and on returning, found that his girlfriend was close with some other men. This enraged Mukhiya, who confronted her and an argument ensued at her residence in Hennur on Saturday.

At this point, Savitha intervened, siding her sister, and Mukhiya stabbed her with a knife before fleeing the scene.

Savitha however, survived and along with her sister, filed a complaint with the Hennur police. The police tracked Mukhiya and arrested him. He was produced before the magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody for week.

The police are yet to ascertain the reasons for Mukhiya taking his own life, but they are speculating that he was depressed after learning that his girlfriend was close to other men. His subsequent predicament, including being arrested and jailed, could have spurred him to commit suicide, police said.

The police are also trying to find out how Mukhiya could have hanged himself using a shoelace. The jail authorities ensure that prisoners (convicts as well as under trials) do not have access to any sharp instruments or ropes, fearing that depression could lead some of them to taking their own life.

The Parappana Agrahara police have registered a case of unnatural death and are investigating.