A female inmate serving sentence at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Central Jail recently faced sexual exploitation, allegedly at the hands of a senior jail official, reports claimed on Monday. In the aftermath of the incident, the opposing BJP has levelled allegations against prison authorities and senior officials of attempting to suppress the incident.

Leader of Opposition and Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi has demanded a fair probe into the incident, alleging a systematic cover-up by officials within the prison administration.

BJP cries ‘institutional crime’

Marandi wrote in this regard to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, claiming that a woman inmate lodged at the jail had faced ‘continuous mental and physical exploitation’ by the jail superintendent and had allegedly become pregnant.

He termed the allegations a ‘grave institutional crime’ and accused the senior prison authorities, including the Inspector General (Prisons) of attempting to shield the accused senior cop and suppress evidence linked to the case.

Further in the letter, he alleged that the inmate had been taken outside prison premises to hospitals and to undisclosed locations under the pretext of medical treatment, in a bid to destroy biological and forensic evidence. Adding to the allegations, he wrote that prison personnel and potential witnesses aware of the incident were either transferred or were removed overnight to prevent details from coming to light.

Prison officials yet to respond

Communication efforts, such as calls and messages made to contact the jail superintendent and the Inspector General (Prisons) went unanswered. However, sources said that the incident had come to prison authorities’ notice as early as April. The BJP leaders in the state have reacted sharply to the alleged incident.

Meanwhile, BJP women’s wing spokesperson Rafiya Naz termed the alleged incident ‘shameful’ and accused the administration of trying to conceal the case.

Administration orders probe into incident

Responding to the allegations, spokesperson of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Supriyo Bhattacharya said that the truth would emerge following a detailed and a fair investigation. He also assured that action would be taken if any wrongdoing is established in the incident.