Undertrial prisoner in coma after being beaten up

An undertrial prisoner was hospitalised in comatose condition today after allegedly being beaten up, though there was confusion about who assaulted him.
The jail authorities said the prisoner was "beaten up by police officials" when he was for trying to escape, while the IG (Prison) held that he was assaulted for theft by people before his arrest.
The prisoner, 35-year-old Amarjeet Rai, was arrested by the GRP on the charge of stealing railway scrap yesterday and was taken to Samastipur jail after being produced in court, Jail Superintendent Manoj Kumar said.
Kumar said the policemen who escorted Rai to the jail beat him up when he tried to escape.

However, giving a different version, Inspector General (Prisons) Prem Singh Meena said: "It appeared that the public had thrashed Rai before he was arrested. He was taken to the jail where his condition deteriorated."
Rai was admitted to the Sadar Hospital in Samastipur from where the doctors referred him to the Patna Medical College and Hospital.
"The patient is in coma and we have referred him to PMCH. He has suffered serious injuries," Dr R D Rai said.