A remand prisoner from Penagaram in an attempt to commit suicide slit his throat with a vegetable-cutting knife at the prison here on Sunday morning.
Preliminary investigations revealed Sivaraj (55), who was arrested and lodged in the prison here in connection with an attempt to murder case, was in a state of depression as his family members did not visit him in the jail for a long time and also did not take any steps to obtain bail for him.
Police said that Sivaraj bought a piece of land from one Poonkudran of Nalampatti near Penagaram. Meanwhile, Amudha, sister of Poonkundran, met Sivaraj and claimed that she also had a share in the property. This led to a verbal altercation between Amudha and Sivaraj. In the ensuing melee, Sivara reportedly assaulted Amudha and her mother Rathinammal (70). The Penagaram police booked an attempt to murder case and lodged Sivaraj in Salem prison.
However, none of his family members did not come and meet him in the jail. Sivaraj was upset over this and on Sunday, around 7 am, during tea time, he entered the jail kitchen, took a vegetable cutting knife and slit his throat.
Other inmates, who saw him bleeding profusely, informed the authorities. He was immediately taken to the prison hospital, where he was given first aid. Later, Sivaraj was shifted to the Salem GH.
Prison Superintendent Shanmuga Sundaram conducted an internal inquiry while the Hasthmpatti Police have booked a case and are investigating.