NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Out of the 24 CCTV cameras at Sub Jail, Sada-Vasco, only three were operational when the ruckus was reported there on January 25 in which the undertrial Vinayak Karbotkar died, the crime branch probe has revealed.
According to the police, it appears that Karbotkar was the main reason behind the ruckus, however, it is not yet clear as to who assaulted him.
The police said that the CCTV footage is an important piece of evidence and could have provided a clearer picture of the incident.
However, only three cameras were operational and the rest of them were out of order, for the last several months, a senior police officer said referring to the information provided by jail officials.
The police said that of the three, one camera was in the vicinity of the location where the incident occurred.
The CCTV data, that remains stored in DVR, is being sent to forensic science laboratory outside the state for examination, the police officer said adding that it is delayed owing to some technical reasons.
The police officer informed that statements of jail staff as well as inmates, who were present at the time of incident in the jail are being recorded.
The jail is now closed as the inmates have been shifted to Colvale jail.
The Mormugao police had registered offences of murder and others under various sections of the IPC against unknown accused.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch.
During the incident some prisoners as well as jail staff had also suffered injuries.
On January 25 night, Karbotkar was brought back from Oras, Maharashtra. As per the report of the jail administration, immediately he (Karbotkar) started misbehaving with the jail staff and demanded to open the gate of cell number 13.
As his demand was turned down, he instigated cell inmates, who forcibly managed to break open the cell gate and came out. Subsequently, they went on rampage and damaged the property at the jail, the report has said.
According to the jail staff, it was pitch dark after the rampage and nothing could be seen. Further the inmates opened the gate of cell number 15 by force during which it appears that there was a tussle among the prisoners and they assaulted the jail staff, mentions the report of the jail administration.
Postmortem report has revealed that Karbotkar died of haemorrhage and shock as a result of combined multiple body injuries caused by a blunt object, the police have said.