India Rape Suspect Found Dead in Jail

Anindito Mukherjee/European Pressphoto Agency Tihar Jail, New Delhi, in this Feb. 9, 2013, photo.

NEW DELHI â€" One of the men accused in a Delhi gang rape case was found dead in his jail cell on Monday morning, a jail official said.

The man, Ram Singh, who drove the bus in which the fatal rape took place on Dec. 16, appeared to have hanged himself from a metal grille with a rope made from his clothes, a spokesman for Tihar Jail, Sunil Gupta, said in an interview.

Mr. Singh was one of five men, including his brother Mukesh, charged with rape and murder in the death of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student. The case ignited widespread protests in India and a push to increase saety for women.

Mr. Singh was the first of the accused to provide details of the attack to the police. His confession helped them track the four other men and a juvenile who have been arrested in the case.

Mr. Singh shared a jail cell with other inmates, Mr. Gupta said, and it was unclear how he may have hanged himself without attracting their attention. Mr. Gupta said an inquiry had begun.