LUCKNOW: A magisterial probe has concluded that two undertrial prisoners who were found dead under mysterious circumstances in Sultanpur prison on June 21, 2023, were in fact murdered.
Chief judicial magistrate Sapna Tripathi’s 24-page investigation report confirms that Kariya alias Vijay Pasi (20) and Manoj Raidas (19) were murdered and holds the then jailadministration responsible for the crime.The investigation revealed that both the prisoners had died before their body was found on June 21.
However, the jail administration concealed this fact and failed to initiate any investigation. The report further states that forceful hanging was the cause of death and Kariya sustained 13 injuries on his body. The nails on their feet and hands were found to have turned blue, possibly due to poisoning.
Besides, the CCTV footage from June 19-21 was found missing, further casting doubts on the role of jail officials.
The two undertrials, residents of Lorikpur under Jamo police station area of Amethi district, were arrested on May 26, 2023, on the charges of murder of poultry farm operator Om Prakash Yadav. On May 30, they were lodged in barrack number 19 of Sultanpur jail.
On June 21, their bodies were found hanging from a bedsheet in the garden of the jail complex. Initial police probe said the two died by suicide. However, following protests from family members, the district judge made CJM Sapna Tripathi the investigating officer and asked for the report.
On June 28, Sultanpur district jail head warders Dheeraj Chaubey and Chandrashekhar were suspended. The decision of suspension was taken based on a report prepared by the jail officials.
When TOI called then jail superintendent Umesh Kumar Singh, who is now posted in Varanasi, he said that at the time of the crime, all the members of FSL, dog squad and other officials had made a visit, but nothing like this cropped up.
Chief judicial magistrate Sapna Tripathi’s 24-page investigation report confirms that Kariya alias Vijay Pasi (20) and Manoj Raidas (19) were murdered and holds the then jailadministration responsible for the crime.The investigation revealed that both the prisoners had died before their body was found on June 21.
However, the jail administration concealed this fact and failed to initiate any investigation. The report further states that forceful hanging was the cause of death and Kariya sustained 13 injuries on his body. The nails on their feet and hands were found to have turned blue, possibly due to poisoning.
Besides, the CCTV footage from June 19-21 was found missing, further casting doubts on the role of jail officials.
The two undertrials, residents of Lorikpur under Jamo police station area of Amethi district, were arrested on May 26, 2023, on the charges of murder of poultry farm operator Om Prakash Yadav. On May 30, they were lodged in barrack number 19 of Sultanpur jail.
On June 21, their bodies were found hanging from a bedsheet in the garden of the jail complex. Initial police probe said the two died by suicide. However, following protests from family members, the district judge made CJM Sapna Tripathi the investigating officer and asked for the report.
On June 28, Sultanpur district jail head warders Dheeraj Chaubey and Chandrashekhar were suspended. The decision of suspension was taken based on a report prepared by the jail officials.
When TOI called then jail superintendent Umesh Kumar Singh, who is now posted in Varanasi, he said that at the time of the crime, all the members of FSL, dog squad and other officials had made a visit, but nothing like this cropped up.