New Delhi: Incidents of death in prisons across the country are showing an increasing trend with jails in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar recording the highest number of such incidents.

The deaths, both natural and unnatural, have increased from 1,169 in 2004 to 1,424 in 2006, according to the latest statistics provided by the National Crime Records Bureau.

In 2005, there were 1,341 deaths in jails.

However, the number of unnatural deaths depicted a sharp decline from 131 in 2004 to 81 in 2006. But the 2006 figure was an increase of 14 compared to the previous year.

The number of women losing their lives in jails also showed a more than double increase from 25 in 2004 to 55 in 2006. The 55 deaths in 2006 included five unnatural deaths.

Jail officials attribute the rise in number of deaths in prisons to poor physical conditions of the inmates and shortage of medical staff in prisons.

According to NCRB statistics, Uttar Pradesh, which topped the 2006 list with 191 deaths, registered a 50 per cent increase in such incidents. The deaths in UP prisons rose from 96 in 2004 to 191 in 2006. About 171 deaths were reported from UP jails in 2005.

Among the 191 incidents in UP, 11 cases were unnatural deaths, while the number of women victims were five.

The deaths in Bihar prisons, which topped the list in 2005, dropped to 173 in 2006 from previous year's 198. Seven victims in 2006 were women.

Andhra Pradesh (120), Maharashtra (115) and Tamil Nadu (114) followed UP and Bihar in the list while Delhi, the national capital, recorded 22 cases of death in prisons in 2006.

According to Delhi prisons official, 33 prisoners died in custody in 2007.

Source : PTI