RAWALPINDI, July 1: A prisoner committed suicide under mysterious circumstances in Adiala Jail on Monday, police said.

Mohammad Rashid, a resident of Plundri, Azad Kashmir, was found hanging with a piece of bed-sheet tied to the ventilator of the bathroom of his lockup, the jail authorities said.

Rashid, in his early 30s, had been allegedly involved in robbery and a case of keeping illegal weapons. He was arrested by the Kotli Sattian police in September 2001.

According to a senior jail official, Rashid had been in distress since he appeared before the court of law on June 12, 2002. He had requested the court that he should be released as he was innocent.

“Apparently, the disappointment after failing to get release orders drove him to commit suicide,” the jail official said on condition of anonymity.

The body was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for autopsy after a brief investigation by a magistrate. According to a doctor, the victim had visible marks around his neck.