Women inmates of Mumbai jail protest convict’s death

Mumbai: Over two hundred women inmates of Byculla jail in central Mumbai were up in arms since morning today after a convict died due to alleged thrashing by an official.

The jail houses 251 women prisoners.

Manju Govind Shette (45), a convict, died at government-run J J Hospital last night after allegedly being beaten up by a woman prison official, which touched off the protest.

Some women inmates climbed atop the roof of the jail while newspapers were torched inside, said a police official.

The inmates wanted to present the issue before the media which is not permissible under the prison rules, and police were trying to mediate between the agitating women and the jail staff, he said.

“Inmates are alleging that she (Shette) was beaten up by a woman prison official,” said Bhushankumar Upadhyay, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons).

Akhilesh Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-III), said that judicial inquiry into the inmate’s death was underway. “We will look into the allegations against the jail staff,” he added.

—PTI