Prisoner Lodged in Dharamshala Correctional Home Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances; Probe Underway

Punjab News Express

May 21, 2026 - 18:20

0 22

By Arvind Sharm

DHARAMSHALA: A prisoner serving a sentence under the POCSO Act at the District Correctional Home in Dharamshala died under mysterious circumstances on Wednesday evening, triggering questions over the exact cause of death and prompting an official investigation.

The deceased has been identified as Vivek Kumar (25), a resident of Khanyara in Dharamshala and son of Jagdish Chand. According to jail authorities, the incident occurred at around 5:35 PM inside the prison premises. CCTV footage reportedly shows Vivek collapsing moments after touching the iron gate of his cell. Fellow inmates immediately raised an alarm, following which prison staff rushed him to Dharamshala Hospital in an unconscious condition. Due to his critical state, he was later referred to Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, where doctors declared him dead.

Vivek Kumar had been lodged in the correctional home since 2023 in connection with a POCSO case and was serving a seven-year sentence. Sources said he had already completed a substantial portion of his term.

Confirming the incident, Jail Superintendent Vikas Bhatnagar said the preliminary findings suggest the possibility of electrocution, though the exact cause of death is yet to be determined. “A detailed investigation is underway, and all aspects of the case are being examined,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the deceased’s father has raised serious allegations regarding the circumstances surrounding his son’s death. Jagdish Chand submitted a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, expressing suspicion of foul play inside the jail premises. Rejecting the jail administration’s claim of an accidental death, he alleged that his son may have been physically assaulted by one or more individuals inside the correctional facility.