KHAMMAM: The very mention of Khammam subjail is sending shivers down the spines of prisoners as it has earned the dubious distinction of being 'death home' to undertrials.
Half-a-dozen undertrials have died in as many months in this sub-jail and the prison officials as well as the inmates blame it on Vaastu dosham.
The sub-jail was constructed a year ago at Danavaigudem in Khammam at a cost of Rs 9 crore. Home Minister K Jana Reddy inaugurated the complex.
As many 450 undertrials are lodged in the jail as against its capacity of 350.
Ever since its inauguration, prisoners have been dying for various reasons casting a shadow on the prison.
Sanjay Lakshman Nimbedkar died in June due to ill health. Earlier, a person from Zaheerpura thanda had died.
On March 8, P Veerraju of Malkangiri district of Orissa died of chest pain.
Last month an undertrial, Venkateswarlu, died while undergoing treatment in hospital. On Wednesday another undertrial, Thota Muthaiah of Dummugudem mandal, died in MGM Hospital while undergoing treatment.
With the increase in the number of deaths in this prison, the kin of the prisoners are agitated over the safety of their dear ones. Vaastu experts attribute the deaths to a burial ground situated in the north-east corner of the prison. They opine that north-east should be vacant and even jail officials also agree with the theory. But they cannot take any corrective steps as it concerns the State Government.
A prisoner, who was enlarged on bail a few days ago, said that the inmates were in the grip of fear psychosis and have urged the officials to correct Vaastu and rectify the problem. But some who doesn’t believe in Vaastu tick it off as superstition.
The proposal on upgrading the subjail into a district jail is pending with the government. Once it is upgraded, medical and other facilities would be available round the clock.
The jail is also overcrowded and under- staffed. District jail official Saidaiah admitted that deaths of prisoners were occurring at regular intervals for the last one year. He, however, denied that Vaastu was the main reason and said the building was constructed in compliance with Vaastu.
satyanarayanareddy@epmltd.com