Undertrial Accused in Robbery-Murder Cases Dies by Suicide in Surat Central Jail

SURAT : A death inside the high-security Lajpore Central Jail has raised questions about inmate safety and prison oversight after a 26-year-old undertrial prisoner was found hanging in a barrack...

The deceased, identified as Manish Kurmi, also known by the aliases Suchitra, Vichitra Babu and Puri Kurmi Patel, was lodged in Yard No. C/9/1. According to the preliminary account, the incident occurred at around 3 am on October 26, when he allegedly hanged himself using a piece of saffron-coloured cloth tied to the iron frame of an exhaust fan near the bathroom grille.

The incident came to light during the early hours, prompting jail staff to alert the police. Duty Jailer Vikramsinh Parmar reportedly informed Sachin Police Station by telephone. The police received the information at around 4.45 am and initiated legal proceedings.

Kurmi was facing allegations in serious robbery-cum-murder cases registered at Pandesara and Kadodara GIDC police stations. He had reportedly been in judicial custody for around four years.

The motive behind the alleged suicide has not yet been established. Investigators are examining the circumstances leading to the death, including whether the prisoner was facing any mental distress or other difficulties while in custody.