Darbhanga divisional jail at Laheria Sarai. Picture by Mukesh Kumar Jha

A Darbhanga divisional jail inmate slashed his neck under mysterious circumstances on Saturday afternoon and died in a hospital at night.

Sources said Shiyaram Sahani (55), the deceased, asked the guard to let him out to relieve himself. On way to the toilet, he picked up a glass bottle lying beside the jail hospital, smashed it and slashed his neck with a shard.

Sahani was given preliminary treatment at the jail hospital before being referred to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital. He succumbed to injuries at night.

Ramadhar Singh, the jailor of Darbhanga divisional jail, told The Telegraph: “Sahani was mentally ill. He disturbed other jail inmates on August 17 night. I learnt about it last morning (Saturday). He was examined by a doctor, who submitted a report. But I am yet to go through it.”

Narrating the course of events on Saturday, the jailor said: “On the pretext of relieving himself, Sahani went out of ward number 5 around 1pm and injured himself. Following preliminary treatment at the jail hospital, I took him to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital. Doctors said his condition was normal. Around 8pm, Sahani’s condition started deteriorating and he died at 8.40pm. We have registered a case of attempted suicide at Laheria Sarai police station. His mental condition was so bad that even five guards could not restrain him. I sought more guards.”

Countering the jail administration’s claim, Sahani’s cousin, Ashok Sahani, said: “My cousin did not have any mental problem when I met him at 11am on Saturday. We were not apprised of any such problem. If he was not diagnosed with any such problem even a day earlier, how could a mental disorder lead him to commit suicide? This is a story concocted by the jail administration to hide the truth behind the incident.”

“He was murdered in jail in collusion with its administration. The post-mortem report is awaited. We are nervous but will surely institute a case of murder after performing his final rites.”

Sahani, a resident of Narayanpur village under Manigachhi police station, around 26km northeast of the district headquarters, was jailed on the charge of cutting trees under the Indian Forest Act. He appealed for bail in the Darbhanga district court but was sent to jail on August 16.