An undertrial prisoner from Kandhamal’s Phulbani Circle Jail passed away while receiving treatment at MKCG Medical College in Berhampur. The deceased has been identified as Yashobant Amat, a resident of Komdarkamba village under Kealapada panchayat in Phiringia police station limits.
Amat was arrested in connection with a ganja smuggling case and had been lodged in the Phulbani sub-jail since his apprehension. According to police sources, on September 5, during a routine patrol near the Shani Temple in Baliguda main road under Phiringia, officers intercepted Amat and his wife, Ambika. A search yielded approximately 21 kilograms of ganja in their possession. Both were promptly arrested, produced in court, and remanded to judicial custody after their bail applications were rejected.
Amat’s health began deteriorating shortly after his incarceration, leading to his admission at the Phulbani District Headquarters Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was referred to the advanced facilities at Berhampur’s MKCG Medical College for specialised care. Despite medical efforts, he breathed his last in the early hours of Tuesday, around 4 AM.
Following the death, jail authorities have lodged a formal report at Baidyanathpur police station in Berhampur, initiating procedural inquiries as per protocol. The incident has cast a spotlight on the healthcare challenges faced by inmates in district jails, with Amat’s wife, Ambika, still awaiting trial in the same case.
Family members of the deceased could not be reached for immediate comment, but local sources indicate that post-mortem formalities are underway. Further details on the cause of death are expected from the medical report.
