Pratapgarh Undertrial Accused Dies in Suspected Jail Fire: Inmate Booked for Culpable Homicide and Molestation Charges Found Burnt in District Prison
Pratapgarh (UP): A shocking and mysterious incident unfolded on Friday afternoon when an undertrial prisoner, accused in a culpable homicide case and of molesting a minor girl, died after being found severely burnt inside the district jail premises.
The inmate was discovered among a pile of wood stored between the inner and outer boundary walls of the prison under suspicious circumstances.
While prison authorities initially suspect suicide, the incident has raised several serious questions regarding the circumstances of the death and the adequacy of security arrangements inside the jail.
According to officials, a fire broke out in a stack of wood kept between the inner and outer boundary walls of the prison during the afternoon hours. Jail staff rushed to the spot and attempted to control the flames using water pumped through a submersible motor.
After the fire was extinguished, authorities were stunned to discover a charred body lying amidst the burnt wood.
The deceased was identified as Rahul alias Deepak, an undertrial prisoner lodged in the jail in connection with a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder as well as charges of molestation involving a minor girl.
Upon receiving information about the incident, Additional District Magistrate Aditya Prajapati, Additional Superintendent of Police (East) Shailendra Lal, and Kotwali City Station House Officer Subhash Yadav arrived at the jail premises along with a police team.
A detailed inquiry was carried out at the site for over two hours before the body was sent for post-mortem examination.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. Questions are being raised about how the inmate managed to leave his barrack and reach the restricted area between the prison’s inner and outer boundary walls.
The sudden outbreak of fire in the woodpile and the prisoner’s apparent inability or unwillingness to escape the flames have further deepened the mystery.
The jail administration has so far refrained from providing a clear explanation regarding how the fire started or how the undertrial accessed the location where the wood was stored.
The incident has also raised serious concerns about possible lapses in prison security protocols.
Taking immediate action, the jail authorities have suspended the Deputy Jailer and two Head Warders on charges of negligence pending further investigation into the incident.
Rahul alias Deepak had been arrested by Kandhai police on November 11, 2025, in connection with the criminal case and had been lodged in the district jail since then.
Authorities are awaiting the post-mortem report, which is expected to shed more light on the exact cause and circumstances of the death.
The incident has triggered debate about inmate safety, supervision standards, and the effectiveness of security measures inside correctional facilities, as investigators continue to examine whether the death was a case of suicide, accident, or involved other factors.
