A Crime Diaries Exclusive | June 2025
“They Went In for Justice, But Found Only Darkness”
Indian prisons were meant to reform. But behind those towering walls, thousands are trapped in inhuman conditions—tortured, broken, and forgotten. From overcrowding to caste-based abuse, from mental illness to silent suicides, this isn’t a justice system. It’s a machine that destroys lives before verdicts are even reached.
The Undertrial Crisis: Punishment Without Conviction
India has over 5.7 lakh prisoners, and shockingly, nearly 76% are undertrials—people not yet proven guilty. Many of them are stuck behind bars due to slow investigations, endless adjournments, or the inability to pay bail. Some have spent more time inside than the sentence their alleged crime carries.
These people are not convicts—but their suffering often exceeds that of sentenced criminals.
Overcrowded Cells, Collapsing Systems
Across the country, jails are bursting. On average, Indian prisons are over 130% overcrowded. In some states, jails designed for 600 people house over 1,000. Inmates sleep in shifts. Toilets overflow. Basic hygiene? Forgotten.
Staff shortages make it worse. Nearly 40% of jail posts remain vacant, including essential roles like medical officers and psychologists. One prison doctor is responsible for hundreds of inmates, leading to unchecked diseases, untreated injuries, and rising death rates.
Mental Illness and Suicides: Dying in Silence
Indian jails are crushing people mentally. Over the past decade, the number of mentally ill prisoners has doubled. Many are left untreated, mocked, and ignored.
In 2022 alone, 119 prisoners died by suicide—a rate far higher than India’s general suicide average. Many were young, jailed for petty crimes, or first-time offenders.
One tragic case involved a young undertrial in Punjab. Eight months in custody, no trial, no legal aid, no mental health support—he died by suicide. His depression was never even diagnosed.
Torture and Medical Neglect: Death by System
Custodial torture is illegal—but it’s widespread.
Prisoners have reported being beaten with belts, stripped naked, starved, or locked in solitary cells for weeks without cause.
The 2021 death of Father Stan Swamy, an 84-year-old tribal activist, shocked the nation. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he was denied a basic straw and sipper in jail. Despite his frail condition, he died waiting for bail. He became a symbol of how brutal and indifferent the system can be—even to the elderly and ill.
Caste and Class Discrimination: Inequality Behind Bars
Prisons mirror the inequalities of Indian society. Dalits, Adivasis, and Muslims are overrepresented and often arrested without strong evidence. Once inside, they face caste slurs, physical abuse, and denial of basic rights.
Meanwhile, wealthier or more powerful inmates enjoy VIP treatment. Separate barracks, home-cooked food, fans, phones—even “helpers” from other inmates. A recent investigation showed how money and influence create two kinds of prison lives—one brutal, the other privileged.
Women Prisoners: The Forgotten Voices
Though women form a small percentage of the prison population, their pain is unique—and often ignored.
Most are first-time offenders, and many are mothers. Yet basic needs like sanitary pads, prenatal care, or counseling are either missing or denied.
Some women inmates live with their babies in overcrowded wards. These children grow up behind bars—never seeing the world outside, trapped while their mothers wait endlessly for trial or verdict.
No Reform, No Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is supposed to be the core of prison systems—education, therapy, and vocational training. In India, it’s mostly absent.
As a result, most prisoners return to society with no mental stability, no skills, and no support. This increases relapse, homelessness, and repeat offenses.
In 2023, the government introduced the Model Prisons Act, promising reforms in prisoner rights, health, and rehabilitation. But on the ground, implementation remains poor or absent.
Stories That Expose the Rot
- A 19-year-old undertrial in UP spent 2 years in jail for stealing a ceiling fan. He was acquitted—but by then, he had lost his family and his sanity.
- In Bihar, a Dalit woman jailed for stealing rice received no legal aid. She was released only after public outrage.
- In Punjab, the number of prison suicides has doubled in 3 years—many involving undertrials who weren’t even charged formally.
Why It Matters: A Broken System Can’t Deliver Justice
India’s prison system is more than broken—it’s becoming a graveyard of forgotten lives. From delayed justice to psychological collapse, caste bias to custodial torture, the rot runs deep.
Unless urgent reforms are made, more lives will be lost silently behind bars. We need more staff. Real mental health care is essential. Strong legal aid and human rights oversight are required.
Final Thoughts
Justice should never mean punishment without proof.
Yet, that’s exactly what thousands of undertrials in India face. They walk into jail innocent—but come out broken. Some never come out at all.
Until we fix this system, justice will remain a word, not a reality.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on verified public records, investigative journalism, and government data. It does not intend to target any individual or authority. Instead, it aims to raise awareness about systemic failures in Indian prisons. All incidents mentioned are factual to the best of our knowledge and sourced from credible outlets. Reader discretion is advised due to sensitive content.
Sources for This Story:
LiveLaw – Model Prisons Act 2023
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Prison Statistics India 2022
India Justice Report
The Wire – Prison Overcrowding
Human Rights Watch India
Amnesty International India
The Hindu – Father Stan Swamy Reports
OMCT (World Organisation Against Torture)
The Indian Express – Mental Health in Prisons
Bar & Bench – Supreme Court Judgments on Undertrials
NHRC Reports on Prison Deaths
IndiaSpend – Suicide Data in Jails
Scroll.in – Caste and Wealth Bias Inside Prisons
India Today – VIP Facilities in Jails
Hindustan Times – Women Prisoner Rights
The Print – Mental Health & Infrastructure Gaps