In a shocking incident on Tuesday morning, a man accused of raping his daughter cut off his own penis whilst being held in the Peermade sub-jail in Idukki, Kerala. The 42-year-old man was later admitted to the hospital in Kottayam Medical College, where an emergency surgery saved his life.
The man is from Vandiperiyar in Idukki, and was being held as an under-trial prisoner in Peermade sub-jail as there was no one to furnish bail for him after he was charged under the POCSO Act for allegedly raping his daughter.
Every Tuesday morning, sub-jail officials allow the prisoners' to shave, using prison-issued razors. Officials report that while shaving on Tuesday morning, the accused suddenly cut off his penis and threw it in the compound of the jail.
His fellow prisoners noticed the incident, and immediately informed jail officials. He was rushed to Peermade taluk hospital, where he was provided emergency primary medical assistance. Following this, he was immediately to Kottayam Medical College Hospital with the help of Peermade police.
“How can we imagine that an accused will do such a thing? We immediately rushed him to the hospital and it saved his life. We have received information that the surgery has been successful and that his health is now stable," says a prison official.
Four months ago, the man was booked for raping his daughter and continued to be held in jail, awaiting trial. However, his co-prisoners said that the accused had told them that he didn't commit the crime, says the official.
“For the last several days, the accused told the inmates that someone had trapped [framed] him in the rape case. We suspect the accused has committed this act due to the mental pressure,” continues the jail official.
However, Peermade sub-inspector Rajesh told TNM it remains unclear to him what exactly took place in the jail on Tuesday morning. “Actually, we do not know what happened in the jail. After the incident the jail authorities informed us, we provided police escort and other assistance to the patient in order for him to reach a better treatment facility [than the Peermade taluk hospital, where he was taken by prison officials initially], and it saved his life.”