TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Even as the state is scrambling to comply with the High Court directions to shift the Aguada Central Jail to the newly-constructed jail at Colvale, jail authorities are caught in a controversy – that of an assault on a prisoner, whose wife had filed an RTI application.
This time however, the jail authorities, have acted promptly and asked the jail superintendent for an explanation on the incident and other allegations; and also directed the medical authorities to compulsorily examine the inmate to see if there was anything medically wrong with him.
The wife of inmate Sanjay Gadekar lodged a complaint with the Inspector General of Prisons Dr Sachin Shinde that the jail superintendent and other staff assaulted her husband because of a RTI application filed by her some months ago and for statements against the jail staff after a convicted prisoner died at Aguada jail. The woman also sought medical attention for 29-year-old jail inmate Gadekar.
Gadekar was allegedly assaulted on November 17 and the wife came to know about it when she went to meet him
“I have asked the jail superintendent to submit a report,” IG Prisons, Dr Sachin Shinde said, adding that the more serious charge was of neglect after the assault, he had asked that the inmate be examined by medical personnel.
“Instructions have been issued that a medical examination be done irrespective of the truth or falsehood of the allegations,” he said, admitting that the allegations were serious and as part of natural justice he had asked for a report from the superintendent after which the matter would be further probed.
According to the complainant, she was not allowed to meet her husband on the grounds that he had returned the previous day from parole and even medicines were not allowed to be given to him “as per rules”.
The complainant claimed that she had learnt about the assault on her husband from other jail visitors.
