VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM: Four Aguada jail officials including Jailor Vithal Gawas have been transferred to Sada sub-jail after a magisterial inquiry report indicted them in the death of convict Mahadev Gaonkar.
The convict was left without treatment for almost five hours after allegedly suffering from acute food poisoning on May 31.
Assistant Jailor Ramnath Gaude and two head jail guards Narayan Hivrekar and Yeshwant Naik are among the four who have also been issued show cause notices asking why action should not be taken against them.
Inspector General of Prisons Mihir Vardhan has confirmed that the department has initiated action against whosoever is held responsible in the inquiry report. “We will start taking action against the four officials,” he told Herald.
A senior officer said the jail officials will face action under Civil Service Conduct Rules, which could even mean their suspension. “The officials were transferred so that they don’t interfere during the inquiry process. The department is contemplating disciplinary action against them,” said the officer.
The 175-page report, which was submitted to the government on July 15, had held Jailor Gawas and other officials’ on-duty responsible for the death of the murder convict and delay in giving him medical treatment.
The report, quoting the assistant jailor, also stated that Gawas did not check the condition of the critically ill prisoner in Cell number 12 where he was lodged with about 34 other inmates.
“…It was observed by Hivrekar and Naik (head guards) along with Gaude (asst jailor) that the condition of convict Gaonkar was not quite good, but in spite of their personal observations he wasn’t shifted to the nearest doctor or hospital. To top it up the Jailor Vithal Gawas has the audacity to say that he was not informed of the ailing prisoner,” the report states.
Gaude, in his statement to the inquiry officer Additional Magistrate Dipak Desai claimed he reported Gaonkar’s ill-health to the jailor at about 6:15 to 6:20 am on May 31. Gawas had given an option that Gaonkar would either be attended by the jail compounder at 9 am or jail doctor at 10 am, in case the police escort team does not turn up to shift him to hospital.
The existence of three gangs led by three alleged criminals in the jail, easy availability of poisonous and banned substances, favouritism, pathetic condition of the Aguada jail kitchen and other aspects were highlighted in the report.
Sada sub-jail Jailor Mahesh Phadte is also likely to face action for allegedly sneaking mobile phone into the jail premises.
