Malkangiri: Tension prevailed at the Malkangiri District Headquarters Hospital on Tuesday after an undertrial prisoner died during treatment, with his family members staging a protest outside the hospital demanding a fair post-mortem and clarity on the exact cause of his death.
The deceased, identified as Kabiraj Raut, had been lodged in Malkangiri Jail as an undertrial prisoner for nearly four years in connection with a ganja case.
According to reports, his health deteriorated suddenly on Monday, following which jail authorities brought him to the District Headquarters Hospital. However, doctors examined him and declared him dead.
The family members objected to the decision to send the body to Koraput for post-mortem and later placed the body in front of the hospital’s main gate, demanding a proper investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and the post-mortem process.
Police reached the spot and held discussions with the family members in an attempt to pacify them. The body was subsequently handed over to the family, but the relatives again staged a protest on the hospital premises, demanding that the exact cause of death be established and appropriate steps be taken regarding the post-mortem.
Police continued efforts to bring the situation under control and resolve the matter.
