A 24-year-old inmate was discovered dead inside a washroom of the hospital located within the premises of Neemka Jail in Faridabad in the early hours of Monday. The incident has sparked protests by his family, who accused jail authorities of harassment and demanded a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Details of the Incident
The deceased, identified as Ritik alias Rankit, was a resident of Ghazipur village in Faridabad. According to officials, he had been incarcerated since May of the previous year and faced multiple criminal cases in Faridabad and Sonipat. These included charges of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, offenses under the Arms Act and Prison Act, assault, and obstructing a public servant from performing official duties.
Sources revealed that Ritik had been admitted to the jail hospital after falling ill a few days prior. During the intervening night of June 7 and 8, he was found dead inside a washroom at the facility. Jail staff promptly alerted senior officials, and the body was subsequently transferred to BK Hospital for an autopsy.
Official Response
A senior officer confirmed that a judicial inquiry has been initiated to establish the sequence of events and examine the circumstances leading to the death. The inquiry aims to determine whether any negligence or foul play was involved.
Family Allegations and Protest
Ritik’s family members have alleged that he was subjected to mental harassment by jail officials. “We want action against those involved in his harassment that pushed him to take this extreme step. We also demand the CCTV footage from the premises at the time of the incident,” a family member stated. The family questioned how such an incident could occur despite security arrangements for inmates undergoing treatment in the hospital. They demanded strict action against anyone found negligent.
Later, family members staged a protest near the BK Hospital chowk, calling for a transparent investigation and action against those found guilty.
Investigation Underway
Police officers stated that the allegations made by the family would be examined during the judicial inquiry. “The postmortem has been conducted, and further action, if required, will be taken based on the findings,” an official said. Authorities have assured that all aspects of the case will be thoroughly investigated.
