A medical examination done on Sheena Bora murder accused Indrani Mukerjea has concluded that she suffered 'blunt injuries on her hands and other parts of the body'.
This lends credence to Mukerjea's application to the Nagpada police station yesterday alleging that jail authorities abused inmates who were protesting the death of fellow inmate Manjula Shetye last week. Mukerjea, currently the most high-profile inmate of the jail, told the CBI court on Wednesday that from what she observed, Shetye was sexually abused and physically assaulted by the jail authorities.
The Maharashtra State Women's Commission members will be visiting the Byculla jail for an inspection later today, we hear. Byculla jail superintendent Swati Sathe and other jail staff were present at the commission office this morning.
Among the charges made by Indrani is one that says that male guards were part of the lathi charge done by authorities on protesting jail inmates. She claimed to have been abused and hurt in the process. The court, after hearing her out, ordered the jail to have a medical examination carried out on her.
Manjula Shetye, who was serving a life term, had been shifted to the Arthur Road jail only a few days earlier. Sources say she was beaten up for protesting against insufficient rations - she was asking for an additional two eggs and five slices of bread. Manjula, who was functioning as the warden, was allegedly brutally beaten up by senior jail staff as well as guards, and rods inserted into her private parts. When she started bleeding profusely, she fainted and was taken to the JJ Hospital where she was declared dead.
Her death sparked agitation among the jail inmates, who burnt newspapers and documents, staged a protest on the jail terrace and allegedly, some inmates even tried to escape. 200 inmates, including Mukerjea, were booked on charges of rioting. Six jail staff, including superintendent Manisha Pokharkar were suspended and a FIR filed against them. The crime branch is currently investigating the case.
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