A 34-year-old undertrial prisoner was allegedly stabbed to death by two fellow inmates inside Central Jail number 10 in Rohini on Monday, with police registering a murder case and examining CCTV footage and medical records as part of the investigation.
The victim, Pradeep alias Mohinder Bagri, was lodged in barrack number 203, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Shobhit Saksena said. Police were alerted after Bagri was taken to BSA Hospital with a stab injury, but he was declared dead on arrival.
According to the preliminary inquiry, Bagri was walking towards his barrack when two fellow inmates allegedly attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon and stabbed him in the neck. Senior police officers and the SHO of Samaypur Badli police station reached the jail and hospital after receiving the information.
Family alleges threat over ₹10 lakh
Bagri's family has alleged that a prison official could have been involved in the killing. His cousin Gajendra Bagri claimed that the official had demanded ₹10 lakh from the victim and threatened to have him killed if the money was not paid.
“We are sure of the prison official’s involvement in the matter. We also know that police will never investigate this,” Gajendra alleged.
Hindustan Times contacted DCP Saksena and a Tihar Prison spokesperson for their response to the allegation, but no comment was received.
Gajendra said Bagri had been in jail since 2024 in connection with robbery charges along with his friends. He said he met Bagri at around noon on Monday during a jail visit and that the attack took place about 30 minutes later.
The victim's brother Ravi said the family had lived in Delhi until 2010 before moving to Rajasthan. They returned to Delhi in 2024 following the death of their aunt, after which Bagri was arrested along with his friends and remained in custody.
Police examine CCTV, conflicting claims on attackers
Police said they have collected the medico-legal case (MLC) and are examining CCTV footage from the jail to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify those responsible.
While the preliminary police inquiry points to two inmates as the alleged assailants, Ravi claimed that four people were involved in the killing. Police have so far declined to disclose the identities of the accused.
Ravi said the family would hold a protest seeking a fair investigation into the death.
A case under murder charges has been registered at Samaypur Badli police station. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading to the attack, as well as the identities and roles of those allegedly involved.