Kin allege foul play as inmate dies in jail

According to sources, Rizwan Basha, 44, of NSR Road in Saibaba Colony, was arrested by Big Bazaar police for murdering Krishnasamy, a teacher in 1997. He was serving life term in the Coimbatore Central Prison from 2002.

In November last year, Basha came out on a one month parole and married a woman, but returned to jail again after the end of his parole period. 

On Sunday morning, Basha fainted and was admitted in the prison hospital. After administering first aid, he was taken to the CMCH for further treatment. 

However, he died on the way to the hospital. Meanwhile, relatives of Basha gathered at the CMCH demanding a probe into his death. “Many prisoners are dying under mysterious circumstances in the jail. Action should be initiated against the jail officials for not providing timely treatment to protect the lives of prisoners,” said the relatives. 

As they refused to receive the body of the deceased person from the hospital, senior police officers arrived, held talks and persuaded them to take the body. Prison officials said that Rizwan Basha died of cardiac arrest. However, a probe has been ordered.