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, following which prison authorities shifted him to GBP Hospital for treatment as his condition reportedly 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 delaying the treatment.
They claimed that Pradyut’s condition worsened subsequently and he eventually died at the hospital. The family has raised questions over whether timely medical intervention could have changed the outcome.
The allegations, however, 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 the coordination between prison authorities, hospital staff and family members when critical treatment is required.
The family’s allegations have yet to be addressed publicly by the concerned authorities. No official clarification was immediately available regarding the treatment protocol followed or whether any inquiry would be initiated into the circumstances of his death.
The circumstances surrounding the death and the alleged delay in treatment remain to be established.
