LARKANA, Sept 3: An HIV-positive undertrial prisoner booked for murder died in the jail ward of the Chandka Medical College Hospital late last month, it emerged on Tuesday.

The head of the medical unit 1 of the CMCH, Prof Dr Hakim Abro, confirmed on Tuesday the death of the 35-year-old UTP, Nazeer Ahmed Nagraj.

He said that he had issued a certificate on Monday mentioning the cause of death as “HIV positive and disseminated tuberculosis”.

Dr Abro added that the certificate was issued and sent to the medical superintendent of the CMCH — a requirement because the document has to be produced in the court concerned.

He said the UTP was admitted to the jail ward of the CMCH nearly three months ago. When his tests were carried out, it emerged that he was HIV positive and was suffering from tuberculosis.

Sources told Dawn that that Nagraj was booked for murder by the Drigh police in Qambar-Shahdadkot district. He was admitted to the jail ward of the CMCH on May 25 and died on Aug 26.

A resident of Allah Rakhiyo Junejo village of Qambar taluka, Nagraj had been in prison for nine years, they said.