Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Prisoner deaths on the rise in Cherlapalli



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PVCHR Communication <cfr.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 4, 2014 at 7:46 PM
Subject: Prisoner deaths on the rise in Cherlapalli
To: covdnhrc <covdnhrc@nic.in>, jrlawnhrc <jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in>
Cc: Lenin Raghuvanshi <pvchr.india@gmail.com>, Upendra <pvchr.adv@gmail.com>


To,
The Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

I want to bring in your kind attention towards the news published in Times of India on 4th November, 2014 regarding Prisoner deaths on the rise in Cherlapalli http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Hyderabad/Prisoner-deaths-on-the-rise-in-Cherlapalli/articleshow/45028597.cms
Therefore it is a kind request please take appropriate action at earliest.
Thanking You
Sincerely Yours
Lenin Raghuvanshi
Secretary General
Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights

Prisoner deaths on the rise in Cherlapalli

TNN | Nov 4, 2014, 01.14 AM IST
HYDERABAD: Death of six prisoners due to health problems in a span of fortnight in Cherlapalli central prison speaks poorly of conditions. All of the prisoners were rushed to Gandhi hospital in an emergency situation, where they died later. 

It is learnt that nearly 200 inmates show up at the jail hospital everyday complaining of various ailments. They are given medication and admitted to hospital if the situation warrants. More serious cases are referred to Gandhi Hospital. However, more often than not, the ailing prisoners are rushed to Gandhi Hospital only when their condition becomes irretrievable. 

Two deaths were reported in the last 48 hours alone. An undertrial prisoner named Sanjay, 19, from Assam and a convict, B Vidya Sagar, 66, died at Gandhi Hospital after being shifted there in a critical condition. On October 25, a convict, Syed Chand , 54, from Karimnagar also succumbed at the hospital. 

Another death was reported on October 20. A 33-year-old convict, Nalla Danaiah, from Ranga Reddy district died at the same hospital due to extensive anterior wall myocardial infarction. On October 16, a convict, Shaik Mastan, 39, from Adilabad district, died of meningitis and acute kidney failure. Sources said the prison which has 1,900 inmates was practically ill-equipped to deal with medical cases until recently. There was only one doctor posted However, it was only a month ago that three more doctors were posted. 

Cherlapalli prison being a central correctional centre, prisoners from various districts are brought. With four doctors having been posted in the jail now, the situation is expected to improve. 

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the prison has taken up a health check-up. The jail also has an ECG machine. 

A prison official agreed that there had been an increase in deaths in the recent past. Though the prisons department had been asking the medical and health department to post some doctors, there was no response until a PIL was filed in the high court. 

It was only after the matter went to court, that three more doctors were posted.