A violent assault inside one of Maharashtra's largest prisons has left a young murder accused fighting for his life. The incident, which occurred at the Yerawada Central Prison in Pune, has once again raised serious questions about inmate safety and security protocols within the facility.
Morning Assault in Barrack Number 1
The attack took place in the early hours of Monday morning, around 6:45 am, within Barrack number 1 of the prison. According to officials from the Yerawada police station, the victim, identified as Vishal Nagnath Gaikwad (27), was suddenly set upon by two other undertrial inmates. The assailants used a sharp piece of stone tile as their weapon, striking Gaikwad on the head.
Gaikwad, a resident of Laxminagar in Yerawada, has been in judicial custody since his arrest in January 2019 in connection with a murder case. The morning prison schedule was underway when the violence erupted, catching both inmates and guards by surprise.
Identities of the Attackers and Motive
Police have swiftly identified the two alleged attackers. They are Akash Satish Chandalia (30), who is also a murder accused, and Deepak Sanjay Reddy (27), an accused in an attempt to murder case. Preliminary investigations point towards an old rivalry between Gaikwad and his attackers as the likely motive for the brutal assault.
Prison guards, alerted by the commotion, rushed to the spot and managed to intervene, stopping the attackers from causing further harm. The injured Gaikwad was immediately rushed to a hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Critical Condition and Recurring Violence
The consequences of the attack were severe. Vishal Gaikwad sustained a serious head injury and had to undergo surgery. His condition remains critical, and he is currently under observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Police officials stated that they will record his formal statement once his health improves and he is in a position to speak.
This is not an isolated incident of violence within the walls of Yerawada Central Prison. In a chillingly similar event in the first week of September this year, a 52-year-old inmate serving a life sentence was attacked by two undertrials with a nail following a dispute over sleeping space.
Furthermore, in December last year, a heated argument between undertrial inmates escalated into a violent scuffle. These repeated incidents occur despite security upgrades, including a CCTV network of over 812 cameras that became operational within the prison just last year.
The latest attack underscores the persistent challenges of managing inmate conflicts and ensuring safety in overcrowded judicial custody facilities, casting a long shadow over the effectiveness of current security measures.
