Jail SP refutes, sets record straight
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 24 2013:
Flatly rejecting the claim that under-trial prisoner Laikhuram Rojit (28) was given only pain-killer when he fell ill SP (Jails) IK Muivah has asserted that the allegation raised by Sanatombi (Rojit's mother) was baseless and fabricated.
Rojit is one of the accused in the rape case of a chilli (U-Morok) trader.
Speaking to media persons at Sajiwa Central Jail today, IK Muivah said that Rojit was brought to the jail on March 27 last year.
He started complaining of ill-health in the month of December.
Accordingly, he was attended to by four doctors and eight nurses of the jail round the clock.
H was also taken to JNIMS.
In fact, Rojit was examined 30 times by jail doctors and seven times at JNIMS.
He was given medicines prescribed by specialist doctors of JNIMS.
At times, his family bought medicines but it can be reimbursed, the SP said.
The annual medical budget for jail is just four lakhs whereas there are around 700 prisoners.
Informing that Rojit's family are the owners of packaged drinking water firm Silver Dew, Muivah said that priorities are generally given to the poorest and neglected prisoners.
"But this does not mean all prison inmates are not taken care of", he chipped in.
Moreover, Rojit was commander of Sector 7 where he was staying till November.
Given all these facts, there was no question of partiality or negligence on the part of jail authorities.
In the meantime, Rojit's father Tomba visited the jail and talked personally about taking out Rojit from the jail on bail citing health conditions.
But the same proposal was declined.
After all, whether a prisoner should be released on bail or not can be decided only by Court and this was conveyed to Tomba.
By fabricating baseless allegations, Rojit's family were trying to project the jail authority in wrong light, SP Muivah asserted.