Byculla inmate murder: Shetye’s kin request transfer of witnesses to another jail

The kin of Manjula Shetye, who was allegedly beaten to death by six officials in Byculla women’s prison, are demanding that the jail authorities shift the main eye-witnesses from to another jail for her safety.

Manjula’s brother Anant said they are unsafe in that jail as jail authorities can pressure them for speaking against them. He has demanded for their transfer to another jail.  He said, “The witnesses should be shifted from Byculla jail, especially the main witness, who is also the complainant, as there are chances the jail authorities would threaten them and make them change their statements.” 

Manpada police informed Manjula’s kin, who live in Kalyan, about her death on Saturday at 7am.  “We were going to meet her on Saturday in the afternoon but before that we were told that she had died. So we directly went to the hospital where her body was kept,” said her another brother Sharad. 

After getting approval from respective authorities, a post mortem was conducted on Saturday night and its report revealed that she was beaten to death. 

An officer from Nagpada police station said, “The post-mortem report revealed that the woman’s lungs were soared owing to the injury. There were 11 to 13 contusions all over her body caused by being beaten with a blunt object.” 

Based on the report, a murder case was registered against six jail officials and simultaneously another case was also registered against 291 jail inmates, including Indrani Mukerjea for creating ruckus inside jail premises. 

Anant said, “How can anyone be so brutal? I want the investigating officers to inquire about Manjula’s behaviour and her medical reports. She was made the warden in Yerwada jail as well because of her good behaviour and she has been medically fit throughout her life.” 

The Nagpada police will record statements of Sheena Bora murder case's prime accused Indrani Mukherjea and the other 290 inmates.