Tihar undertial slashed, attackers self-inflict injuries to dilute case

The spate of attacks on Tihar Jail inmates by their fellow prisoners continued as an undertrial prisoner was attacked with sharp weapons within hours of his admission into the prison. 

The five assailants also went on to injure themselves with the same weapons, allegedly to mitigate the seriousness of the case, jail staff said.Those who suffered serious injuries in the process include the assaulted inmate and three attackers.

An interrogation of the suspects revealed that the new entrant into prison was involved in an old enmity with those who attacked him. The accused had allegedly been waiting for Ravinder, 35, to be jailed so that they could launch a murderous assault on him. A surgical blade and two handmade sharp weapons were recovered from the spot of crime. The incident took place around 8.30 pm on Tuesday. Ravinder, an accused in several criminal cases, had been brought to the jail only a few hours prior to the incident. 

“Administrative formalities for his admission into the jail was in process when he was attacked,” the deputy superintendent of Tihar Jail, gate number 4, told police in his statement.

The incident was witnessed by head guard Ashok of ward number 9, police have been told.

He noticed five prisoners attacked Ravinder on his face and other body parts.As soon as they noticed the guard, the assailants allegedly began hitting themselves with their sharp weapons.

Polices said this was done to dilute the case against them.Ashok drew the attention of other jail staff nearby who used “mild” force to save Ravinder. 

The injured men were taken to the jail clinic from where Ravinder was rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. 

Sometime later, three assailants too were sent to the same hospital given the seriousness of their “self-inflicted” injuries.

The assailants involved three undertrial prisoners and two convicts. The enmity was between undertrial Arvind and victim Ravinder.

“Arvind hatched a conspiracy with his four friends to kill Ravinder as soon as he is brought to jail,” said police.