Undertrial branded in Uttar Pradesh jail

An undertrial inmate of Dasna Jail in Ghaziabad of Uttar Pradesh has told a local court that he was branded on his waist with a hot iron rod by a jail official for refusing to cough up a bribe.

The matter came up in court Tuesday as a local lawyer filed an application before the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ghaziabad, saying the inmate had been branded with a hot iron at the orders of a jailor by other inmates, called "numberdaar".

The incident, according to the complaint registered in the court, occurred Dec 5. In his application, the lawyer sought that a medical examination be conducted on the undertrial.

The court will now hear the matter Thursday.

Lawyer Sahastra Pal Singh, speaking for Lokesh alias Karan, a resident of C-63 Shiv Vihar Police station Gokulpuri, Delhi, submitted that the jailor, Rajesh Kumar Pandey, had been demanding a bribe of Rs.60,000 from undertrial Lokesh.

Lokesh was lodged in jail Oct 11 this year, and the demand for the bribe began soon thereafter, Singh said.

On Dec 3, the jailor snatched Rs.10,000 from Lokesh. He also got another inmate to instruct Lokesh to cough up another Rs.50,000 soon. Lokesh was told that he would be "taught a lesson" Dec 4, when the jailor made a routine visit, if he was unable to arrange the money, said Singh.

When Lokesh failed to produce the demanded money, the lawyer's application said, the jailor had arrived in the prison Dec 5, and dragging Lokesh outside the barrack, had barked at him: "You have no notion who I am, I am R.K. Pandey". He said he would brand the inmate, so he would never ever forget the incident.

Three other inmates, all called "numberdaar", then caught Lokesh and branded on his waist, with a hot iron rod, the name "RK PANDEY".

Lokesh was beaten hard, and sustained injuries in the right leg and shoulder. Four inmates, Prashant, Ankit, Raju and Mangal, witnessed the action.

Lokesh has suffered injury in several parts of his body, and also fears for his life, the lawyer said in his application.

The lawyer has sought a medical examination and the initiation of legal action against the jailor and his accomplices.

The victim had also submitted an application before the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Karkardooma, Delhi, and forwarded copies to the National Human Rights Commission and other central and state government bodies.

Viresh Raj Sharma, superintendent of Dasna Jail, said an inquiry into the matter is being undertaken by jailor O.P. Katiyar.