Unable to secure bail, undertrial, 57, dies by suicide in UP jail

Agra: Upset over "not being able to secure bail for the last 10 months", a 57-year-old inmate being tried under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and lodged in Mathura's district jail for almost a year allegedly died by suicide early Thursday.Jail superintendent, Anshuman Garg, said, "The incident took place possibly around 2am when the inmate, Suresh Kumar, went inside the barrack's toilet. When he did not return for nearly 10 minutes, an inmate tasked as a makeshift night guard went to check and found Kumar hanging. The guard alerted jail constables outside who then informed senior officials."Garg added: "Following the incident, we inspected the barrack and questioned other inmates. Prima facie, Kumar was found to be under stress after his March 24 bail hearing in a higher court could not proceed. Earlier, his bail was denied by a court in Mathura. Further inquiry also revealed that he had changed lawyers at least four times over the past year."The undertrial's call records from the prison PCO showed he had spoken to his family on Wed (March 25), and kept on asking them to consult a proper lawyer to "get him out". "A detailed investigation will be conducted in the matter," Garg said.Kumar, who belonged to Mathura and was unmarried, was in prison due to a case under the NDPS Act at Govardhan police station. He was arrested last year after a prohibited substance was found in his possession.