Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 15: Two separate deaths linked to inmates of Tihar Jail have raised questions over prison health and security mechanisms. In the early hours of Monday, a prisoner admitted at the Tihar Jail hospital died by suicide, while in another case, an under-trial ISIS-linked accused passed away in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital over the weekend.

According to jail officials, the deceased in the first case has been identified as Ramesh Karmakar, an under-trial prisoner who was lodged in Jail Number 4 but had been shifted to the hospital facility in Jail Number 3 for treatment since May 28. His body was found hanging from a window late Sunday night, and jail authorities were informed shortly after. A probe into the incident has been launched, officials confirmed.

In a separate development, 2023 arrestee Saquib Nachan — linked with the Islamic State (ISIS) terror module — died at Safdarjung Hospital, sources informed. He had been under judicial custody at Tihar and was admitted to the hospital a few days ago.

Nachan was a known figure in India’s terror landscape and had previously been convicted in the 2002-03 Mumbai bomb blasts. He was a key accused in the Delhi-Padgha ISIS module case and was reportedly operating as the self-styled Amir-e-Hind of the banned terror group in India, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The NIA had filed a chargesheet against him and 16 others in June 2024 under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act. The investigation revealed their roles in recruiting and radicalising youth, manufacturing explosives, and promoting ISIS ideology through digital propaganda including magazines like Dabiq, Rumiyah, and Voice of Hind.

The twin deaths have prompted internal reviews and raised concerns over the health and safety of inmates in custody. Jail authorities have ordered inquiries into both cases.