On November 22, he had a date with the doctors at Kidwai Institute of Oncology. The appointment now stands cancelled because Ningappa Dashrath Gavari, a life convict, died in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, of HIV and cancer, at Victoria Hospital.

The 27-year-old from Bijapur, was convicted for murder by the additional sessions court, Bijapur on April 16, 2005, along with his father and younger brother and lodged in Central Prison, Bijapur.

 “He had developed a swelling in his neck and was being treated at Dharwad District Hospital, from where he was shifted to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli on September 26. On October 6 he was moved to Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, Bangalore for treatment,” said Mr Perumal, Superintendent, Central Prison, Bijapur.

Ningappa was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma — a cancer of the cervical lymph nodes at Kidwai. He was treated and looked after by the doctors at the Central prison but they needed an expert opinion to guide them on the line of treatment.

“We wrote several letters to Director/Medical Superintendent, Kidwai Institute asking them to admit Ningappa or at least tell us the stage of his illness and line of treatment but there was no response. Last week we again wrote to them asking if we should put him on chemotherapy or give him palliative care but they didn’t respond,” said a prison doctor, at the Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara.

 “Ningappa wanted to go back to Bijapur to meet his mother. On Tuesday he again expressed his wish but we asked him to meet the doctors first. His condition worsened in the evening. We rushed him to Victoria Hospital where he died at 3 am on Wednesday,” said the doctor.

Ningappa was spotted by two nuns, from the Prison Ministry, India, who visit the Central Prison everyday to counsel the inmates. Sister Adele of Sisters of Charity and Sister Subala of Notredame saw Ningappa in the prison hospital.

“His wound was oozing and had a bad odour. We took him to Kidwai seeking his admission but they were reluctant.

They said he should be accompanied by an escort, who should stay back with him in the hospital. Finally, we thought of shifting him to Snehadana — an NGO working with people with HIV/AIDS, on Sarjapur Road,” said Sister Adele.

Better deal
“Sister Adele approached me for permission for shifting Ningappa to Snehadana for treatment and care and I agreed because I thought he might get a better deal there,” said ADG & IG, Prisons, S T Ramesh.

He was shifted to Snehadana on November 3 but was returned to the prison on November 12.

 “They told me that Ningappa was improving and that he needed treatment for cancer more than HIV,” said Sister Subala.

Watching him deteriorate, the prison authorities were planning to send him back to Bijapur prison so that he could meet his family, but destiny had other plans.

Ningappa’s body is in the mortuary at Victoria Hospital. “His relatives are coming tomorrow to take it,” said Chief Superintendent, Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, V S Raja.