Sambalpur: An under-trial prisoner (UTP) in Sambalpur Circle jail died by suicide Sunday by hanging himself. The deceased was identified as Dharanidhar Mahananda (45), a resident of an area under the Sadar police station limits in this district. He was arrested in a case related to domestic violence and remanded to jail custody Saturday.
Sources said that Mahananda allegedly tied a cloth napkin to his neck and hanged himself from the skylight of the jail toilet. The matter came to the fore after another prisoner went to the toilet and found him hanging. He informed the jail officials following which they rushed Mahananda to the district headquarters hospital (DHH) where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
Notably, Mahananda was an alcoholic and not on good terms with his wife. He used to regularly demand money from his wife. Recently he had attacked her with an axe after she refused to give him money. His wife had to be hospitalised as she suffered grievous injuries.
Following her recovery, Mahananda’s wife lodged a complaint with the police. He was arrested and later on, sent to prison by the court. When contacted prison superintendent Santosh Kumar Barik said that the primary investigation hints at suicide. “However, we can only know the precise reason after the post-mortem report comes in,” Barik said. He also informed that after Mahananda’s arrival in prison, he was housed in a hall with 29 other inmates. “He appeared normal all through Saturday,” Barik said. Meanwhile, Dhanupali police have launched an investigation into the incident after the registration of a case.