Patna, June 24: An undertrial prisoner lodged in the Biharsharif district jail allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison today.

The death of the prisoner, Munna Singh, 40, sparked off strong protest by a group of jail inmates. Acting superintendent of police (SP), Nalanda, Dilip Kumar Jha said: “Munna was found unconscious in ward number 2 around 8.45 this morning. He was rushed to the jail hospital, from where the doctors referred him to the Sadar hospital at Biharsharif. He died around 10.15 am at the Sadar hospital. Some strips of sulphur tablets have been recovered from his ward. Prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide.”

As the news of Munna’s death reached the jail, a group of inmates started stone pelting. The prison authorities used force to bring the situation under control.

Sources said Munna, a resident of Bara village under Ben police station in Nalanda district, was upset over the past few weeks after his attempts to obtain bail proved futile.

The police officer said Munna had to appear before a local court today in connection with a double murder case lodged with the Silao police station in Nalanda district in 2009. He said the trial was in the final stage and Munna apprehended that he might be convicted in the case. He said: “At least 23 criminal cases were pending against him in the court.

The SP told The Telegraph: “The post-mortem of the body had been conducted under the supervision of a medical board. An executive magistrate was also deputed at the hospital.”