Convict battered to death in jail

KANPUR: A 73-year-old life convict at Fatehgarh Central Jail was battered to death by another prisoner on Wednesday night. "Initial probe has revealed that accused Chandrahas Pandey used a brick to kill Gauri Shankar after a scuffle," jailor P K Singh told TOI on Thursday.

Gauri Shankar was a native of Hari Ram Purwa Mubarakpur Lata village in Kanpur Dehat. The accused hails from Deviganj Bhikharipur in Fatehpur. A murder accused, Chandrahas was brought to Central jail in February 2016.

"Owing to good conduct, Gauri Shankar was to be released on January 26, 2019," the jailor said.

"Gauri Shankar and Chandrahas were sleeping in same barrack. At 3am, Chandrahas had a scuffle with Gauri Shankar and attacked him with a brick," said jailor.

Following chaos at around 4am, 'bandi rakshaks' Kesram and Shrawan rushed to the barrack and found Gauri Shankar lying in a pool of blood. They rushed him to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital where his condition deteriorated. Doctors referred him to Kanpur, but he died on way.

"We have given a complaint and a case has been registered and investigation taken up. Accused has been shifted to jail hospital's high security zone. We are trying to ascertain what prompted Chandrahas to kill Gauri Shankar," said another jail official.

"An FIR has been registered against the accused and investigations are on," said SHO Jhajhan Lal Sonker.