LUCKNOW: A shocking incident unfolded inside Lucknow district jail on Tuesday evening when a fellow inmate brutally assaulted former Uttar Pradesh minister and Samajwadi Party leader Gayatri Prajapati.
The attacker, identified as Vishwas, who was assigned cleaning duties inside the jail hospital, repeatedly struck the former minister on the head with an iron rod, leaving him badly injured and bleeding profusely.
The attack occurred around 6:30 PM inside the prison hospital ward where Prajapati had been lodged for months due to multiple health complications, including diabetes, hypertension, kidney problems, and chronic back pain.
According to eyewitness accounts, the altercation began when Prajapati, who had asked for water, scolded Vishwas for arriving late.
The verbal exchange escalated quickly, with Vishwas losing his temper and grabbing a heavy iron rod from a nearby rack. In a sudden fit of rage, he launched a series of blows at the former minister’s head.
Prajapati cried out for help and attempted to run, but the inmate attacked him again, knocking him to the ground.
Hearing his screams, several other prisoners rushed to the scene and restrained the attacker, preventing further injuries.
Medical Response and Emergency Transfer
Jail staff immediately intervened, and a medical officer present inside the prison hospital provided first aid. Prajapati had sustained severe head injuries and was bleeding heavily.
Doctors stitched his wounds with five stitches before deciding to transfer him to the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Trauma Centre for advanced treatment.
Senior Jail Superintendent R.K. Jaiswal confirmed the incident, stating: The inmate attacked Gayatri Prajapati with an iron rod following an argument.
He received injuries to his head. Jail doctors have treated him, and there is no immediate danger to his life. He has been shifted to KGMU Trauma Centre for observation and further medical care.”
Why Gayatri Prajapati is in Jail
Gayatri Prajapati, once a powerful minister in the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government (2012–2017), is currently serving a sentence in a high-profile gangrape case.
In 2017, a woman from Chitrakoot accused Prajapati and his associates of gangrape and molestation. The case quickly escalated into a political and legal storm.
After evading arrest for weeks, Prajapati was eventually taken into custody and later convicted.
Since his imprisonment, the former minister has remained in jail but spent much of his sentence in the jail hospital ward due to his deteriorating health.
Despite this, he has continued to remain a controversial figure in Uttar Pradesh politics, symbolizing both the rise of political power and the dramatic downfall of leaders accused of abuse of authority.
Security Concerns Raised
The incident has raised serious questions about security inside the district jail. Critics argue that even high-profile inmates are not safe within the prison walls, especially when tempers flare among convicts sharing the same space.
Officials are now investigating whether the attack was a spontaneous outburst of anger or if there were deeper grudges and conspiracies behind the assault.
Prison authorities are also reviewing security protocols within the hospital ward to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Current Situation
As of Wednesday morning, Prajapati remains admitted at KGMU Trauma Centre in Lucknow. His condition is described as out of danger but requiring constant monitoring. Authorities have assured his family that adequate medical care and security will be provided.
Meanwhile, the accused inmate Vishwas is expected to face additional charges of attempt to murder and assault inside the jail, over and above his existing sentence.
Security Lapse Raises Alarming Questions
The attack on former minister Gayatri Prajapati inside Lucknow district jail is not only disturbing because of the brutal assault, but also because it raises grave questions about the functioning and accountability of the prison administration.
The use of a rod — a blunt and dangerous weapon — inside the jail hospital ward highlights a glaring breach of security protocols. Where did the iron rod come from?
Why was it accessible to inmates in the first place? Under standard prison guidelines, no object that can be weaponized should ever be left unattended in areas where prisoners are present.
It is a well-known fact that personal rivalries and enmities often run deep inside jails, making such attacks a constant threat. In this case, the lapse suggests that prison staff either failed to conduct routine checks or were negligent in securing the premises.
The matter now calls for an independent probe into the incident — not only to punish the attacker but also to hold accountable those jail officials who allowed such a weapon to remain within reach of inmates.
Without strict action, such incidents risk becoming more frequent, jeopardizing the lives of high-profile and ordinary prisoners alike.
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