Tihar jail prisoner found dead in his cell, family alleges foul play

UNCLEAR Police say Sirajuddin was suffering from diabetes and heart disease

NEW DELHI: A 37-year-old Tihar jail prisoner died inside his ward on Friday afternoon.

Family officials alleged foul play, but jail authorities said the convicted prisoner Mohammed Sirajuddin had high blood pressure and a history of diabetes.

Family members said they were informed of Sirajuddin’s death on Friday evening by prison authorities.

He was found unconscious in his ward inside jail number 9.

Other jail inmates informed the jail warden and he was rushed to the jail dispensary, where he was declared brought dead.

Mukesh Sharma, additional inspector general (prisons), said Sirajuddin was suffering from diabetes and heart disease.

“We informed the local police. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered.”

On Saturday afternoon, Sirajuddin’s family members held protests outside their home in Jafrabad to express their displeasure at the sudden manner of his death.

They blocked traffic on the Jafrabad- Shahadra main road for an hour.

The family suspected foul play to be thereason behind his death and said they were yet to get Sirajuddin’s body.

Jail authorities said the body would be handed back to them on Monday.

An officer in the police department said prison headquarters has requested that Sirajuddin’s post-mortem be conducted by a board of doctors, so they can ascertain the exact cause of death. Sirajuddin, a resident of

Welcome Colony in north east Delhi, was convicted for the murder of two men. He was lodged in jail since July 2009.

A senior jail officer said Sirajuddin allegedly stabbed five men in 2009, out of which 2 died and he was booked for murder. One of the men he allegedly killed was his elder brother.

In 2005, he was also booked for attempt to murder and served around 5 years in jail. He was later released on bail. members blocked traffic on the Jafrabad- Shahadra main road for an hour

Family members suspect foul play and said they were yet to get Sirajuddin’s body

Sirajuddin was convicted for the murder of two men and has been in jail since 2009

One of the men he allegedly killed was his elder brother

“I last met my brother on October 1 at a court hearing. He seemed fine,” said Sirajuddin’s sister, Ameen.

“He did not tell me anything about any heart disease. We want police to probe this case as a murder,” Ameen said, ruling out any health reasons for the death. Police said they are awaiting report from a sub-divisional magistrate probing the case, so that they can take action, as deemed necessary.