Death row convict slashes his wrist

Death row convict Shivu Munishetty on Wednesday allegedly slashed his wrist and private parts with a blade at the Hindalga Central Prison complex in Belgaum.

Shivu Munishetty is one of the two death row convicts from Karnataka, whose mercy petitions were rejected by the President last week.

Shivu is suspected to have slashed his wrist and private parts with a razor. The incident took place on Wednesday morning after his family members met him at the jail premises. He was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The prison officials are probing how Shivu managed to lay his hands on a razor despite tight security.

However, Chief Superintendent of the jail G. Veerabhadraswamy told reporters that Shivu, who had gone for a morning bath, picked up a piece of tile (used for roofing of a building) and made a cut on his private part. It was a minor injury.

“Nothing serious, it is just a minor injury and there was no problem,” Mr.Veerabhadraswamy said.

Prison official Dr.Yamkanmardi said he was treated within the jail hospital and there was no need to take him outside.

However, there were unconfirmed reports of Shivu having made several injuries using a shaving blade. Initially, the jail staff denied the incident, even as they called on the district government hospital authorities to visit the jail for treatment of the inmate.

Shivu has been in Hindalga jail since November 2005 following his conviction for rape and murder by the district and sessions court in Chamarajanagar.