By IANS
Raipur : For Balram Sharma, 35, the Chhattisgarh High Court decision converting his death sentence into life imprisonment came a day too late – he was found dead in his Raipur jail cell a day ago. The authorities said he had killed himself.
Sharma had reportedly been very depressed since the death sentence pronounced in May by a sessions court in Durg district for axing to death his wife and two minor children in September last year.
On Wednesday, a two-member bench of the Chhattisgarh High Court based at Bilaspur converted his death penalty into life imprisonment.
But Sharma had already died by then.
He was found dead inside his special cell, with his hands tied behind and a cloth stuffed inside his mouth and nose on Tuesday. Authorities at the high-security Raipur Central Jail described it as a suicide and said they had found a suicide note as well.
Sharma, a resident of Charoda-Bhilai locality of Durg, was brought to the Raipur jail in May from Durg district jail.
The high Court had concluded its hearing on Aug 20 on an appeal by Sharma and reserved the verdict for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the jail authorities have suspended two constables who were on duty on Tuesday when Sharma committed suicide and have also ordered a magisterial probe.
Raipur Central Jail is considered one of the most high profile jails of the state as it houses several hardcore Maoist ultras and other dreaded criminals.