Mathura (UP), March 26 A 57-year-old inmate died after allegedly attempting suicide inside a cell at the Mathura district jail early Thursday, a senior official said.
Jail Superintendent Anshuman Garg said the incident occurred at 2 am when the inmate, Suresh, went to use the washroom inside the cell.
As inmates are locked in at night, a watchman is appointed from among them while guards remain stationed outside, he said.
"When Suresh did not return for about 10 minutes, the watchman checked and found that he had attempted to hang himself," Garg said.
The watchman immediately alerted the constable on duty, who informed other officials.
Suresh, who was still breathing, was rushed to the jail hospital, where he received initial treatment before being referred to the district hospital because his condition was critical, the officer said.
He was later declared dead at the district hospital, Garg added.
Preliminary investigation suggests that Suresh was under stress due to delays in his case proceedings.
"His case was to be heard in the high court on March 24, but the matter did not come up, leaving him worried. He had also changed three to four lawyers in the past year," the superintendent said.
Officials found that Suresh had spoken to his father on Wednesday morning and repeatedly requested him to arrange a lawyer who could effectively present his case.
"Prima facie, he appeared disappointed over not getting bail. An investigation is underway," Garg said.
Suresh had been lodged in the Mathura jail since May 27, 2025, in a case under the NDPS Act registered at the Govardhan police station.