NewsFlash Daily™
21 May
A 25-year-old prisoner serving a sentence under the POCSO Act collapsed inside the Dharamshala jail and later died at the hospital
Dharamshala: Mystery surrounds the death of a prisoner inside a jail in Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamshala after a 25-year-old inmate suddenly collapsed within the prison premises and later died during treatment, officials confirmed on Thursday.
According to Himachal Pradesh Police, the deceased has been identified as Vivek Kumar, son of Jagdish Chand and a resident of Khanyara in Dharamshala. He had reportedly been serving a sentence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
Authorities said the incident occurred around 5:35 pm inside the jail premises.
Dharamshala Jail CCTV Footage Raises Questions
Preliminary information suggests that Vivek Kumar collapsed moments after coming into contact with the iron gate of his prison cell. Purported CCTV footage from inside the jail reportedly captured the inmate suddenly falling unconscious near the gate area.
Fellow prisoners immediately alerted jail authorities, following which prison staff rushed to the spot and shifted him to Dharamshala Hospital for emergency treatment.
However, doctors later declared him dead.
“The exact cause of death will be determined after medical and forensic examination,” officials familiar with the investigation stated.
Police Investigation Into Himachal Prison Death
Officials from the Dharamshala Police have launched an investigation into the incident to determine whether the death was caused by medical complications, accidental electrocution, or any other suspicious circumstance.
Authorities are reportedly reviewing CCTV footage from the prison premises, examining the condition of the iron gate, and recording statements from jail staff and inmates present during the incident.
A postmortem examination is expected to play a crucial role in establishing the exact sequence of events and the medical reason behind the prisoner’s sudden collapse.
POCSO Convict’s Death Sparks Security Concerns
The unusual nature of the incident has raised concerns regarding prison safety protocols and emergency medical response systems inside correctional facilities in Himachal Pradesh.
Officials stated that further details will emerge once forensic teams complete their examination and the postmortem report is submitted.
The case continues to remain under investigation.
