Inmate attacked after fellow prisoner learns of POCSO charges

An 85-year-old undertrial accused in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was allegedly assaulted by another inmate inside a district jail, police officials said.

According to prison authorities, the incident took place during the intervening night of December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, just hours after both inmates were lodged in the jail as undertrials. The alleged attacker, a 39-year-old inmate facing multiple cases of theft and violent conduct, reportedly discovered that the elderly prisoner was booked under the POCSO Act and attacked him inside the barracks.

A senior prison official said CCTV footage from inside the jail confirmed the assault, following which a formal complaint was lodged with the local police. The elderly accused sustained injuries to his face and complained of pain in his teeth but was later reported to be stable.

In his statement to the police, the 39-year-old inmate claimed that he was the father of two daughters and said this motivated his actions. Prison officials said the accused attacker has since been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Officials familiar with prison dynamics note that such incidents, while unlawful, are not uncommon inside correctional facilities. Inmate hierarchies often exist, and those accused of sexual offences against children are frequently targeted by fellow prisoners, reflecting a distorted moral code that operates within jail populations.

Authorities said further investigation is underway, and security protocols inside the jail are being reviewed to prevent similar incidents in the future.