Jamshedpur, Feb. 15: Birendra Singh, a convict in the JMM leader Nirmal Mahato murder case, died of cardiac arrest at a city hospital here today.

The 65-year-old convict was lodged at Sakchi Jail. According to jail sources Singh, who was a heart patient and a diabetic, complained of chest pain around 12.30 pm at Sakchi jail.

The jail authorities soon rushed him to the MGM Medical College Hospital from where he was moved to the Tata Main Hospital (TMH) where he died.

In 2000 the first additional district judge had sentenced him to life imprisonment for killing JMM leader Nirmal Mahato near the Tisco guest house on August 7, 1987. Jail sources said Singh was lodged at Sakchi Jail as there were several cases pending against him at the district court.

On August last year he was released from jail on a provisional bail which was granted to him on health grounds.

During the three months time granted to him he was taken to All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, for treatment.