Prisoner ends life, warder suspended

Officials said that Gajendran (44) of Melnesapakkam village near Arcot, was arrested in connection with a murder case in 1996 and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

He was serving the term in the Vellore central prison. However, Gajendran escaped during the parole period in 2004 and was caught again by the police ten years later in 2014. Since then Gajendran was lodged in Vellore prison. 

Meanwhile, he committed suicide by hanging in the toilet in block II on June 24, following which the Bagayam Police registered a case and conducted investigations. The Katpadi magistrate D Jayakanthan held an inquiry with jail staff, inmates of the same block and doctors who treat the prisoners. 

Post inquiry, Jayabharathy ordered the suspension of first grade warder Prakash, who was posted at the block on that day, on charges of negligence while discharging his duty.