BILASPUR — Security protocols at Bilaspur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh have come under intense scrutiny after a life convict died by suicide on Wednesday afternoon by jumping into a burning gasifier furnace inside the facility's central kitchen.
The deceased inmate was identified as Rahul Kanwar, also known as Vikesh, a resident of Janjgir-Champa district. Kanwar had been serving a life sentence inside the high-security penitentiary since 2014 following his conviction in a double murder case. He had completed nearly a decade of his prison term.
According to prison authorities, the incident transpired around 4:15 PM while kitchen staff and inmates were preparing evening meals for the facility's population. Kanwar, who was assigned to kitchen duty, suddenly broke away from his workspace and threw himself directly into the operational gasifier furnace unit.
The heavy-duty gasifier unit utilizes burning wood at extreme temperatures to generate fuel gas for large-scale cooking. Due to the intense heat within the furnace chamber, Kanwar died instantly upon impact.
Senior Officials Inspect Scene, Magisterial Probe Ordered
Following the alarm raised by prison staff, senior district administrators and police leadership—including Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajnesh Singh, and forensic experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL)—arrived at the facility to secure the scene and initiate investigations.
"The prisoner was actively engaged in routine kitchen work when he abruptly ran toward the gas chamber and leaped inside. The furnace was operating at extreme temperatures, which resulted in immediate fatality," confirmed Jailer Khomesh Mandavi.
Bilaspur SSP Rajnesh Singh confirmed that a formal case has been registered and procedural protocols initiated. "An investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the act is currently underway, and a formal magisterial inquiry has been ordered to ascertain how the incident unfolded," SSP Singh stated.
Questions Raised Over Prison Supervision
Addressing media inquiries regarding safety standards and potential security lapses that allowed an inmate unhindered access to an active industrial furnace, Collector Sanjay Agrawal reiterated that the state has instituted a comprehensive inquiry.
Jail officials indicated that administrative procedures and guard duty rosters will undergo thorough internal review. "If any lapse or procedural negligence on the part of the prison staff is established during the judicial probe, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken," Jailer Mandavi added.
