A 78-year-old prisoner, Laxman Naik, was attacked and killed by another prisoner inside Phulbani jail of Odisha’s Kandhamal district.

Attacked on Saturday

The victim was attacked on Saturday and was shifted to MKCG medical college and hospital in Berhampur at night. He died during treatment on Sunday early morning.

The autopsy was conducted at the medical college.

According to Phulbani jail assistant jailer, the deceased was a resident of Baliguda area of Kandhamal district and was convicted in a rape case. He had been lodged in Phulbani jail since May 2013.

As per jail officials, the attacker, Kanhu Charan Pradhan is suffering from some mental disorder for which he is being treated.

He is in Phulbani jail for the past eight years after getting convicted for murder of his own son.

Probe is on

On Saturday, Pradhan is said to have attacked Naik who was sitting in the open. Pradhan had used a branch of a tree and a boulder to injure the aged victim.

Investigation is on to ascertain the reason behind the attack.