A 31-year-old undertrial prisoner accused in a Pocso case died in a jail in Odisha’s Gajapati district on Saturday night with his family demanding an investigation into the unexplained death.
Runa Badarait, 31, a resident of Jirang village under Rayagada police station was arrested on Augus 10 in connection with a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and was in judicial custody at the Paralakhemundi sub-jail.
Police officials however said there was a discrepancy between the jail authorities’ account and the medical report. Paralakhemundi police station inspector-in-charge Prashant Bhupati said the medical report said that Runa was already dead when he was brought to the hospital.
She said the family was unable to accept the sudden and unnatural death and suspected there could be another reason behind it. The family of the deceased questioned the circumstances of his death, saying he was in good health and had spoken to his wife by phone on Saturday afternoon.
At least 370 prisoners died in the state’s prisons between 2019 and 2024, according to government data. The death comes amid concerns over prison conditions and inmate deaths in Odisha. Five prisoners have died in Odisha prisons so far this year.
“Therefore, an inquest was conducted in the presence of an executive magistrate, and a case of unnatural death has been registered.
Runa’s relative Tuna Badarait said the family saw foam coming from his mouth when they reached the hospital, raising further questions over the circumstances of his death. “We demand a high-level investigation into the incident,” he said. The investigation is underway,” Bhupati said.
