Man accused of raping 6-yr-old ‘kills self’ in Bhiwani jail

SANDEEP KUMAR, WHO WAS SENT TO JAIL ON APRIL 14, USED A BEDSHEET TO HANG HIMSELF IN BATHROOM

ROHTAK : A 26-year-old inmate at the district jail, Bhiwani, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself with a bedsheet, police said.

The inmate, identified as Sandeep Kumar of Charkhi Dadri’s Gothera village, was arrested on charges of raping a six-year-old girl. He was sent to the Bhiwani jail on April 14.

The police said he used a bedsheet to hang himself in the bathroom on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Other inmates alerted jail officials after finding him hanging. His body was sent for postmortem at Ch Bansi Lal Hospital in Bhiwani and a magisterial enquiry has been initiated.

Bhiwani Sadar police station in-charge Sri Bhagwan said Sandeep was booked under Section 376 of IPC and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. The victimi, a Class-2 student, had complained of pain and bleeding in school. When her teacher asked her about the reason for absence for two days, she informed about the accused barging into her house on finding her alone and raping her. The teacher had then taken the girl to the police station to file a rape complaint. The victim was admitted to the PGIMS, Rohtak.

The accused was arrested on April 13 and sent to Bhiwani jail after he was produced in a local court. The police said till now no case of negligence has been registered against jail officials and further action will be taken after the inquiry is completed.

Last month, a 50-year-old jail inmate at the district jail, Jind, had allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a truck that had entered the jail premises with some construction material.