Taking cognizance of this complaint, Metropolitan Magistrate Poonam Chaudhary has directed the station house officer of Hari Nagar police station to submit a report by June 12.

On November 17, 1997, an undertrial, Salim, was allegedly beaten to death in Tihar jail no. 1. Shadaab was witness to this murder, and claims that Salim was beaten to death by other inmates who were provoked by some jail officials.

Shadaab, who is currently facing trial in an attempt to murder case, says that he is ``being mentally tortured and threatened, so that I retract my statement''.

On June 7, Shadaab was experiencing some chest pain because of a previous operation. When he couldn't bear the pain any longer, he asked to be taken to a hospital outside the jail for treatment. Shadaab says in his complaint that he was stopped by another inmate, M.L. Meena, who allegedly told him that he couldn't step outside the gate.

Shadaab also said that Meena first verbally abused him and then started repeatedly beating him with a stick. Shadaab has alleged that this was done in connivance with the jail warden. He has obtained a medico-legal certificate, which explicitly explains the extent of his injuries, and has also filed a court case.

In his complaint Shadaab says: ``I fear for my life. I could be killed at any time. woh kabhi bhi mere saath kuch bhi kar sakte hai(They can do what they want at any time).'' And if this ploy isn't successful then the undertrial fears that he will be implicated in some false case.

Shadaab only prays: ``mera sahi prakaar se ilaaj kiya jaye aur meri jaan ki raksha ki jaye (I should be given proper medical treatment and protection).''