Undertrial sets himself on fire inside Pratapgrah jail, dies

Prayagraj: An undertrial lodged in the Pratapgarh district jail died under mysterious circumstances on Friday after reportedly setting himself on fire inside the jail premises.Taking serious note of the alleged negligence, the director general of prisons ordered the suspension of deputy jailer Dhruv Narayan Srivastava and chief warders Akhilesh Singh and Chonar Prasad. A departmental inquiry has been initiated, and the DIG (jails) has been directed to investigate the case.The deceased, Deepak alias Rahul (22) of Unnao, had been in judicial custody since Nov 1, 2025, after being arrested in a case registered under the Pocso Act and for abetment to suicide. His trial was underway in a designated court.According to jail authorities, the incident took place when barracks were opened during the scheduled meeting hours between inmates and their family members. During this time, Deepak reportedly walked out of his barrack and reached an open area near fields within the premises. He allegedly collected dry wood, leaves, and bushes and set himself on fire.On being alerted, jail staff rushed to the spot and attempted to extinguish the flames. The fire brigade was also alerted. However, by the time the fire was brought under control, the inmate had died. The incident caused chaos inside the jail, prompting senior officials to immediately reach the scene.Administrative and police officials conducted a thorough inspection, examined CCTV footage, and verified inmate records to confirm the identity of the deceased.The body has been sent for postmortem, and the family members have been informed.