Family members stage protest as an inmate in Morang Prison dies on day of his release

Published On: December 25, 2023 01:40 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Dec 25: Chandeshwar Sahani, a resident of Biratnagar Metropolitan City-10, serving his imprisonment for a transaction fraud case, passed away around 6:30 in the morning, the very day of his end of prison term.

On Friday, the prison administration brought him to Koshi Hospital after he complained of heartburn and breathing problems. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ranjan Kumar Dahal at District Police Office, Morang, said that he died during treatment at the hospital. According to DSP Dahal, today was the day he was scheduled to be released after completing his sentence.

The incident has triggered protest from his relatives.

The prison administration informed the family members only after Sahani's death. Jailer at the District Jail, Morang, Krishnahari Neupane said that it was late to notify the relatives because the contact number they had maintained was incorrect.

"We took him to the hospital after he had breathing problems. When we tried to inform his relatives, the number he had given to us was wrong and the call was not received," he said.

Sahani was sentenced to 10 months and 22 days of imprisonment by the Morang District Court on December 6, 2021 in a transaction case. Following the court's decision, he absconded but was apprehended and sent to prison on January 31, 2023.

This is not the first case of death in Morang prison. On December 7, a 37-year-old Keshar Bahadur Bhujel, resident of Letang Municipality-4, died suspiciously in Morang Prison. After the death, the relatives refused to receive the dead body as there were injuries on his dead body. Local administration then formed an investigation committee, prompting the family members to receive the body following a post-mortem examination.

Morang prison houses more prisoners than its actual capacity. There are complaints that the watchmen torture the prisoners under various pretexts. Currently, there are 948 men, 89 women and 7 minors in Morang Prison, which has the capacity to accommodate a total of 300 people.