VASCO: Two women lodged at Sada sub-jail in Mormugao allegedly attempted to commit suicide by consuming phenol, within a span of 24 hours.
Both the women have been admitted at Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim.
According to sources, in the first case, one Renuka Chawan (36) an under-trail inmate arrested in connection with a murder case reported last year at Velsao beach, consumed phenol and started vomiting in her cell, on Friday evening.
Soon after receiving information about the suicide attempt, the jail authorities swung into action and shifted her (Renuka) to cottage hospital at Chicalim from where she was later referred to GMC Bambolim where her condition is reportedly stable.
Similarly, another female under-trial inmate Reshma Shaikh, arrested in a case of human trafficking and was a cell mate of Renuka, too consumed phenol on Saturday evening. She too was referred to Cottage Hospital at Chicalim and then to GMC Bambolim.
Mormugao police informed that they received information from jail authorities about the first case on Saturday morning giving information about the suicide attempt by Renuka Chawan.
“We have recorded the statement of Chawan who is presently undergoing treatment at GMC, Bambolim. As per the victim’s statement, she consumed phenol on her own and under disappointment and depression. The victim said that she was upset as the jail authorities were giving her more work as compared to other female inmates lodged in the jail. She also disclosed that she wanted to meet the jail superintendent to lodge her complaint over the discrimination in allotting work, by few jail staff. However, since the jail staff did not allow her to meet the superintendent, she took such decision under frustration,” police told Herald.
As per Assistant jail Superintendent Bhanudas Pednekar, the jail authorities have taken complete care to ensure that no prisoner gets access to substances like phenol.
He said that after the victims reported stomach ache, they were shifted to hospitals on Friday and Saturday. However, only the doctor’s report would reveal as to whether both the inmates had consumed phenol or not, he said. To clean the toilets in jail, the staff gives a small amount of phenol to the inmates, he said.
Additional IG Prisons Siddhivinayak Naik, informed that, whe would give her comment only after looking at the medical report of the victims and even the decision on whether to call for inquiry or not would be taken following medical report.
As per jail rules, she also claimed, no inmate is prevented from conveying their grievances before the jail authorities and all such complaints are well attended to without any discrimination.
