A young man held in judicial custody at the Gonda divisional jail died under mysterious circumstances on Wednesday evening, triggering allegations of foul play from his grieving family. The incident has cast a shadow over the jail's administration and raised serious questions.
Sudden Illness and Rapid Deterioration
The deceased has been identified as 24-year-old Manoj Kumar, a resident of Khairi village under Nagar Kotwali. He was in jail since March 17 in connection with a murder case. According to Gonda jail superintendent Mrityunjay Pandey, Manoj's day began normally. On Wednesday morning, he woke up without any apparent issues.
However, the situation took a drastic turn shortly after when Manoj complained of severe abdominal cramps. He was immediately taken to the jail hospital for primary treatment. After receiving initial care, he was sent back to his barrack. Unfortunately, his condition worsened again later, prompting jail authorities to rush him back to the hospital.
Medical Response and Declared Dead
At the jail hospital, doctors performed CPR in a desperate attempt to revive him. When no improvement was seen, he was quickly referred to the medical college for advanced care. Tragically, the doctors at the medical college could only declare him dead upon arrival.
Dr. TP Jaiswal of the jail hospital suggested that the case appeared to be a possible heart attack. However, he emphasized that the exact cause of death would only be confirmed after the post-mortem report is available. This has become the central point of contention.
Family's Anguish and Allegations of Murder
The news of Manoj's death sparked immediate chaos and anger. At the post-mortem house, his relatives created a ruckus, vehemently alleging that he was murdered inside the jail premises. His wife, Sonia, and a relative, Shiv Saran, led the protests.
They claimed that Manoj was a healthy young man with no prior medical history. "He had no illness. How can a young boy suddenly die like this? This is not natural. He has been killed inside the jail," they alleged. The family is now demanding a transparent, high-level inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death, suspecting custodial foul play.
Manoj was one of three individuals arrested for the March 15 murder of 23-year-old housepainter Indrabhanu, alias Chhotu. The victim's body was discovered in a wheat field. Police had arrested Manoj, his younger brother Sanjay Kumar, and their cousin Akshay on March 17, claiming to have solved the case.
With this unexpected death, the focus has now shifted from the murder case to the events inside Gonda jail. The family's demand for a thorough investigation has put pressure on local authorities. Police officials have stated that further action will be determined once the autopsy findings are received.
