Remand prisoner dies in hospital; kin allege police assault

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A 29-year-old remand prisoner, died, allegedly due to ill health, at a hospital here on Wednesday. However, his family alleged that he died during assault by the police.

The victim has been identified as Punithan, alias Kelvin, 29, of Tambaram.

He was arrested by the Sankar Nagar Police on February 13 following a court warrant for failing to appear in court in a pending 2020 robbery case. He was then remanded to Puzhal Prison.

Prison sources said he developed sudden illness and was shifted to the hospital, where he died despite treatment.

His relatives, however, alleged that he had a pre-existing hernia condition and bore injury marks on his body. They said he was forcibly jailed despite his poor health condition. They also accused the police of previously foisting a false case on him.

The police denied the allegations, and said an inquiry would be held.