Mystery shrouds jail inmate’s death

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 16

A 52-year-old jail inmate died under mysterious circumstances at the Central Jail here this morning. The deceased has been identified as Satpal Khaira, a resident of Sardar Nagar. He was facing a case of drug smuggling registered at the Jamalpur police station in November last year.

Jail Superintendent Shamsher Singh Boparai said Khaira had been lodged in the jail since November 29, 2018, after he was nabbed by the police on the charge of drug smuggling. He was suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes. He was getting treatment at the hospital situated on the jail premises. He was also taken to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala and Ludhiana Civil Hospital in the past but his health did not improve.

Boparai said when Khaira was lodged in the jail, his one leg was already fractured. When his health deteriorated this morning, an ambulance was called. While he was being shifted to the ambulance, he fell down. A jail medical team was immediately called but they declared him dead, said Boparai.