Death of undertrial prisoner sparks controversy

Kolkata: Tension ran high at the Bongaon Sub Correctional Home after an undertrial prisoner was found dead inside the cell on Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Tapan Das of Fulsara in Gaighata of North 24-Parganas. He was arrested at the Gaighata police station on Monday night for allegedly possessing firearms.

According to sources, on Thursday, a few inmates and undertrial prisoners saw Das lying unconscious inside his cell.

They immediately informed the correctional home authorities. Das was rushed to the Bongaon Sub Divisional Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Later, the body was sent for an autopsy examination.

Sources informed that Das was arrested from Boikara area with a loaded pipe gun on Monday night. Das, was a auto driver by profession, he used to drive an auto in Gaighata. It was alleged that during interrogation he did not cooperate with the police and later he was sent to judicial custody.

Though the police claimed that Das was arrested with firearms, his family refused to accept the allegation. They claimed that Das used to lead a normal life by driving his auto to earn for his family. His family members suspect he might had committed suicide as he might have felt humiliated because of his arrest.

It was alleged that when Das's family members went to the correctional home, authority refused to show them his body. An unnatural death case has been registered at the Bongaon police station. Sleuths are waiting for autopsy report to know the exact cause of death.