Two die in Agra jail, inmates go on rampage

The protest was sparked by the discovery of 22-year-old prisoner Kuldeep Tomar’s body in Cell No. 3 this morning. While jail officials claimed that Tomar had committed suicide, the other inmates alleged foul play.

There are varying versions on the other prisoner’s death, too—35-year-old Md Aslam. While inmates claim that he died during police firing to quell the protest, jail authorities claimed he died of illness.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed for hours in the jail as prisoners resisted the move by authorities to take away the bodies and demanded an investigation by the District Magistrate and the police.

Soon, DM Sanjay Prasad and the Agra SSP reached the jail to pacify the prisoners. Prasad immediately placed jailor S S Chauhan, and deputy jailors S P Tripathi and S N Tripathi, under suspension.

Chauhan told The Indian Express that Aslam died of an illness and Kuldeep had committed suicide. But the prisoners alleged that jail staff often extorted money from them and Kuldeep was a victim of one such bid that was foiled.

DM Prasad told The Indian Express that investigations were on and action would be taken anyone found guilty.