Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Suicide or homicide?' that was published in Newsband

Suicide or homicide?

How did Ram Singh — the main accused in the Delhi rape case of December 2012 — die inside Tihar Jail? Was it suicide or homicide? Despite being kept on special watch, Ram Singh was found dead hanging on the grill of his cell on Monday. Ram Singh’s family and his lawyers have raised the possibility of murder. Ram Singh, who was found hanging with his own clothes.

The report of the All India Committee on Jail Reforms has pointed out, prisoners have the right to human dignity, the right to integrity of the body, and immunity from repression and abuse whether by custodial staff or fellow-prisoners. Only a comprehensive inquiry can reveal whether Ram Singh was treated with dignity in the prison both by jail staff and by other inmates.

This death should provoke changes in some of the processes and procedures in jail administration and bring amendments to the jail manuals to guarantee and ensure the rights of prisoners as human beings.

This incident has proved that even prison cells are not safe now, where inmates are supposed to be under strict security of police. Prisons must be modernized and have CCTVs and monitors. Staff must be made more responsible and answerable for every incident.

Many people have no mercy for Ram Singh and don’t bother whether it’s a suicide or a murder. They feel sorry about the fact that he had an easy escape. They don’t feel bad at all for the way he met his end. They only hope that his death won't provide a loophole for his other accomplishes to escape justice.

It is well known fact that unwanted criminals are lodged in the cell along with sleeper goondas who are expected to kill the target in the cell to silence the accused once for all. Was Ram Singh a similar victim?

It is true that one is innocent until proven guilty, as per law. So should Ram Singh have been fed for 10 years like Ajmal Kasab?

Ram Singh’s death is a serious matter because he knew more about the crime situations. The chance of arriving at vital truth is vanished or the court will be missing some crucial evidence with the prisoner's death. It is strange that Ram Singh whose one hand was not functioning could manage to commit suicide on his own.  If he used his own clothes for hanging then the jail authorities cannot be blamed because the undertrial cannot be left in prison without clothes or a bed sheet to wrap himself with.