A 35-year-old man awaiting trial in a Parbhani district jail has died by suicide, an incident that occurred in the early hours of Friday. This tragic event has once again ignited serious concerns regarding the level of administrative oversight and mental health care within the state's prison system.
Details of the Parbhani Jail Incident
Jail authorities have identified the deceased as Raju Govind Adkine, a resident of Darephal village in the Vasmat taluka of Hingoli district. According to the official account from prison officials, Adkine was discovered during routine morning checks. He was found hanging in the bathroom of barrack number 1.
The officials stated that Adkine used a shawl, which was provided to him as bedding, to hang himself from the grille of the bathroom window. The discovery was made during the standard morning inspection rounds conducted by the prison staff.
Background of the Deceased and Ongoing Treatment
Raju Govind Adkine had been lodged in the Parbhani district prison since March 21, 2022. He was an undertrial prisoner in a serious case registered under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code at the Tadkalas police station. The charges against him alleged that he murdered his mother, maternal aunt, and uncle in Asola village, which falls under Parbhani taluka.
A significant detail revealed by prison officials is that Adkine had been receiving psychiatric treatment during his time in incarceration. They confirmed that he had shown signs of mental distress and depression for an extended period, and his condition was known to the authorities.
Official Response and Investigation Launched
Following the discovery, the prison authorities immediately informed their senior officials. The body was shifted to the Parbhani district civil hospital for post-mortem examination. A formal in-camera panchnama (inquest) was conducted in the presence of a judicial magistrate to document the scene.
An accidental death case has been officially registered at the Nanalpeth police station to initiate a legal probe into the circumstances. Assistant Superintendent of Police Jiwan Beniwal, along with senior officials from the prison department, were present during the procedural formalities.
A senior official from the prison department acknowledged the undertrial's known mental state, stating, "We were aware that the undertrial was depressed and mentally unwell for some time. A detailed report has been sought and appropriate action will be taken based on the inquiry findings."
The police have indicated that the investigation will also focus on determining if there were any lapses in supervision or breaches of established prison protocols that may have contributed to the incident. Authorities are currently awaiting the findings of the post-mortem report and the internal inquiry.
