JOIN USDelhi's Tihar Jail, which houses over 12,000 prisoners, counted the first suicide in 2013 when Ram Singh, the prime accused in the Dec 16, 2012 gang-rape case allegedly hanged himself Monday morning, an official said.
"(The suicide by Ram Singh is) this year's first (suicide) and the third suicide in the last 15 months in Tihar Jail," said the official.
The jail had reported a total of 18 deaths, including two suicides in 2012.
"There have been 18 deaths in Tihar Jail in 2012 out of which 16 were natural, while two were cases of suicide," Vimla Mehra, director general (prisons) told reporters.
Ram Singh, the prime accused in the gang-rape of a 23-year-old physiotherapist, allegedly hanged himself from the grill of his cell no.5 in Jail no.3 using a rug early Monday morning.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.