Local Goa News

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Sada Sub Jail assault: Inmate succumbs in GMC

Chawan’s death has the needle of suspicion pointing towards the jail authorities; the incident has raised several questions as to whether the authorities were trying to hush-up the assault case or did they take the issue lightly like the did in the past

VASCO: Sada Sub Jail inmate Sanjay Chawan, who was assaulted by an undertrial in the jail premises succumbed to his injuries in the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim on Wednesday.

Chawan’s death has the needle of suspicion pointing towards the jail authorities as the incident has raised several questions as to whether they were trying to hush-up the assault case or did they take the issue lightly as they did in the past.
Sanjay Chawan, an inmate, arrested in a theft case, was in judicial custody at Sada Sub Jail. Chawan was assaulted by an under trial Sujit Kumar Singh (33), murder accused but the jail authorities kept the police in darkness and tried to cover up the case, which has now come to light following Chawan’s death.
As per the information, Chawan was arrested by the Maina Curtorim Police in a theft case and was remanded to judicial custody on September 12, 2016.
As the case was reported in South Goa, Chawan was lodged at Sada Sub Jail at Headland Sada. The same night, Sujit assaulted Chawan and later threatened him with dire consequences if he complained about the assault to the jail authorities.
Fearing the consequences, Chawan did not complain to the jail authorities about the assault. But when his condition started deteriorating, he informed the jail authorities on September 15 evening. The jail authorities shifted Chawan to Cottage Hospital at Chicalim the following day (September 16), where the doctors found Chawan’s hemoglobin count low. He was later referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim and on Wednesday (October 5), Chawan succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment. Sources in the GMC informed Herald that Chawan sustained a jaw fracture and internal injuries.
Mormugao Police informed that the jail authorities had lodged a formal complaint about the assault case on September 20, following which the jail authorities booked Sujit under Section 325 of IPC.  Police also recorded the victim’s statement, who informed the police about the assault case reported in the jail premises.
“We had registered an assault case against Sujit and now after Chawan’s death we added Section 302 to the case,” police told reporters.
What is shocking is that the incident was reported to jail authorities on September 15, however, the assault was reported to Mormugao police only on September 20 (gap of five days). This clearly points out the fact that there might me an attempt to hush up the case or else why would the jail authorities keep mum without informing the police for five days. It is also pertinent to note that few days back two female inmates at Sada Sub Jail allegedly attempted suicide by consuming phenol and one of them had complained of harassment caused to her by the jail authorities by giving her more work than other female inmates.
Meanwhile, when Herald contacted Additional IG Prisons, Siddhivinayak Naik, he informed that the victim was taken to the hospital to have his stitches removed and as his hemoglobin was low, the doctors advised him to get admitted to the hospital. However, Chawan died on Wednesday at about 8.30 am.  Naik however refused to comment on the allegations regarding the delay in reporting the matter to the police and claimed that he would call for an inquiry into the case to ascertain the truth.
“Officially I have been told that the victim was taken to hospital to have his stitches removed. However, doctors admitted him due to low hemoglobin, but if there is any lapse, then we would surely call for an inquiry,” he added.

Herald Goa News

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