In a tragic incident, a mentally ill inmate allegedly killed a fellow inmate and injured three others who were asleep in their cell at the Adiala Central Jail.
According to prison authorities, the incident occurred in Cell No 8 of the mental inmates' section. The accused, Muhammad Ahsan, was swiftly apprehended and handed over to the Saddar Beroni police.
The horrifying event unfolded on February 28 at around 2.30pm.
Muhammad Ahsan crafted a weapon by breaking a water mug, sharpening its handle, scraping the prison wall, and extracting a brick. He launched an attack on his fellow mentally ill inmates who were asleep in the cell, causing severe injuries to Ajaz Rabbani, Shiraz Ahmed, and Hammad Ali through repeated strikes with the brick.
Muhammad Omar Azhar, another inmate who was awake during the incident, narrowly avoided harm and promptly alerted the on-duty jail police officials.
Subsequently, the jail staff swiftly unlocked the cell and transported the injured inmates to the emergency hospital for immediate assistance. Upon the arrival of the medical officer, the injured individuals received initial medical attention before being transferred in critical condition to PIMS Hospital in Islamabad. Unfortunately, Ajaz Rabbani succumbed to his injuries during treatment, while the other two continued to receive medical care at the hospital.
Read: Blood screening of Adiala jail inmates on the cards
Superintendent Adiala Jail Asad Waraich confirmed the incident in an official statement, highlighting that the occurrence transpired in the section designated for mental patients. The alleged perpetrator is now facing a drug-related case filed against him at the Sadiqabad police station in Rawalpindi.
Ajaz Rabbani, the deceased, had a drug possession case registered against him at the Sahala police station in Islamabad, while Shiraz Ahmed faced a case of vehicle theft at Mandira police station.
Jail authorities have completed the necessary procedures and transferred Ajaz Rabbani's body from PIMS Hospital to Rawalpindi District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem. Following the examination, the body will be handed over to the deceased's heirs.
Similarly, the other two injured inmates have been shifted from PIMS to DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi for further medical treatment.
Probe launched
Following the incident, an investigative team led by Rawalpindi has been constituted to probe the tragic event. The preliminary findings have been forwarded to the relevant authorities. According to the preliminary inquiry and incident report submitted to prison authorities, the incident transpired on Thursday at 2.30am in Cell No 8, specifically designated for inmates with mental illnesses.
DIG Jails Rawalpindi Rana Rauf is heading the inquiry team, following directives from IG Jails Punjab Mian Farooq Nazir. Accompanied by a medical officer, Rana Rauf inspected the crime scene and gathered statements from the surviving prisoner, as well as the staff stationed at Cell No 8 and the night in charge.
On a different note, a spokesperson for the Punjab Jail Department emphasised that any officer or official found to be negligent in the investigation will face legal consequences once the inquiry is concluded and the final report is available.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2024
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