Tripura murder accused dies in hospital; family alleges delay in treatment

Agartala, Oct 24 : Pradyut Dhar Chowdhury, an accused in the murder of former Bharat Ratna Sangha secretary Durga Prasanna of Usha Bazar, died at Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital here on Friday after being shifted from Bishalgarh Central Jail following a medical emergency, with his family alleging a delay in administering critical treatment.

According to family members, Pradyut developed serious health complications inside the central jail on Friday morning, prompting prison authorities to shift him to GBP Hospital in Agartala as his condition deteriorated.

The family alleged that attending doctors recommended a costly injection considered necessary to treat his condition. However, they claimed that the medical team sought written authorisation before administering the medicine.

According to the relatives, neither jail officials nor an authorised family member was available at the time to provide the required consent, allegedly resulting in a delay in treatment.

They claimed that Pradyut's condition subsequently worsened and he eventually died at the hospital. The family has questioned whether timely medical intervention could have altered the outcome.

The allegations have not been independently verified. Hospital authorities and prison officials have not publicly clarified the nature of the medical emergency, the treatment provided, the purpose of the reported injection or the circumstances surrounding the alleged delay.

The incident has brought renewed attention to the procedures followed during medical emergencies involving inmates, particularly when urgent treatment may require consent or administrative authorisation.

Pradyut had been lodged in Bishalgarh Central Jail after being arrested in connection with the murder of Durga Prasanna, who served as the secretary of Bharat Ratna Sangha in Usha Bazar. The killing had drawn considerable public attention and prompted a police investigation.

His death while in judicial custody has raised questions about access to emergency healthcare for prisoners and coordination between prison authorities and medical staff when immediate intervention is required.

The family has sought answers over the circumstances leading to his death, particularly the alleged delay in administering the recommended injection. However, no official clarification was immediately available regarding the treatment protocol followed or whether an inquiry would be initiated into the incident.

The sequence of events leading to Pradyut's death, including the reported delay in treatment, remains to be established. Further details are awaited from the hospital and prison authorities.