Death convict attempts suicide in prison

Shivu Munishetty, who was sentenced to death along with Jadeswamy Rangashetty, for the rape and murder of an 18-year-old girl in Chamarajanagar district in 2001, attempted to cut his hand and private parts in a bid to commit suicide at the Central Prison at Hindalga here on Wednesday.

The incident comes on a day when the Supreme Court stayed the execution of the duo, following a petition by them after the President Pranab Mukherjee rejected their mercy plea.

Shivu tried to cut his hand and private parts using a tile left behind by labourers undertaking repair works in the bathroom of the cell that houses death convicts.
Sources said Shivu’s attempt showed that he was frustrated with earlier verdicts of the courts going against him and also to avoid the noose.

In a letter supposed to be written by Shivu, he has claimed innocence and says that he has been implicated in the case.

Family members of the two convicts had met them in the jail on Tuesday. 

C Veerabhadraswamy, DIG and chief superintendent of Hindalga prison, told reporters that Shivu’s injuries are not serious.

There are injuries on his external skin and his condition is stable, he said. Abbas Ali, the Head warder at Central Prisons, Hindalga who was in charge of the security of Shivu has been suspended for dereliction of duty, he added

V M Yamakanamaradi, medical officer of the prison, treated him and said there is no need for him to be hospitalised outside the prison. Surgeons from the District Hospital too did a check-up of the convict.