TRICHY: A 70-year-old life convict, A Nathan, died at the Trichy General Hospital on Thursday, becoming the third prison death in a month. Nathan, a native of Pudukottai district, was convicted in 2023 under the POCSO Act for sexually assaulting and impregnating a Class 10 student in 2019. He was serving a life sentence at Trichy Central Prison.

Nathan had been undergoing treatment since June 2, when he complained of suffocation in his cell. He was admitted to the hospital, but succumbed to his condition on Thursday evening.

Following his death, a case was filed under BNSS Section 194 (unnatural death) at the hospital police station. A judicial magistrate inquiry and post-mortem examination were conducted.

His death comes after two other inmates—Y Mariya Soosai (71) from Ariyalur, who died on May 13, and M Rajesh (48) from Thanjavur, who died on May 20—reportedly due to medical complications. The frequency of such incidents has raised concerns about inmate healthcare and prison conditions.

Authorities are yet to release detailed findings from the investigations.