Tihar Inmate Dies Of 'Drug Overdose', Family Alleges Foul Play

New Delhi: A 25-year-old Tihar inmate died at a hospital in New Delhi with police attributing his death to "drug overdose", even as his family members alleged foul play saying that his body bore injury marks.

Undertrial Rashid was taken from jail number 4 of Tihar prison complex to DDU Hospital after he fell unconscious after "drug overdose" on December 21, a jail official said. He died while undergoing treatment six days later on December 26, the official said.

Rashid's post-mortem was delayed as the due procedures could not be fulfilled due to weekend.

When his body was shown to his family members before post-mortem today, they alleged foul play claiming that his body parts including back and neck bore injury marks, the official said.

The post-mortem examination was stopped after allegations were leveled by the family members of Rashid, the Tihar official said.

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His autopsy will now be conducted by a medical board at Lady Hardinge hospital. The jail magistrate has already been informed about death of the undertrial, the official said.

While Tihar officials claimed that the deceased was an "alcoholic" and "drug addict", his family members denied drug addiction while admitting that he used to drink alcohol.

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Rashid, a resident of Chandni Mahal locality of Daryaganj area in central Delhi, was sent to Tihar on August 9 this year.

He had been booked in five cases, including one of murder, by the police. He was arrested by police and sent to Tihar for the first time in 2005.