An investigation is underway in California into the death of Khem Singh, a 72 year-old crippled, Sikh priest from India who died of starvation. After being brutalized by a prison guard, Mr. Singh would not leave his cell for meals or medical visits. Fellow inmates wrote letters and filed complaints about his condition and officials did nothing. His weight dropped to 80 pounds. Now, he is dead.

Prison officials said Friday that they would talk to the inmates and review their letters and complaints as part of a growing investigation into Singh's death. The case coincides with increased scrutiny of California's vast prison system, which is riddled with accusations of brutality, coverups, fraud and poor medical care.

At Corcoran, Singh's condition took a turn for the worse early this year. Some correctional officers went to the prison's medical staff to express their own concerns, according to Romero, but logbooks show that no medical technician, nurse or doctor followed up and treated him in his cell. "Mr. Singh has not left his cell to go to eat — not once," the inmate wrote to Romero in a Feb. 11 letter. "They do not bring him any food. None. I smuggle bread back.... Mr. Singh is gentle, polite. I am ashamed it took me so long to speak out."

The guard who supervised the cellblock — the same one suspected of having assaulted Singh — is alleged to have told another inmate not to bother speaking out on behalf of the starving inmate. "Forget it; he's going to die," the inmate quoted the guard as telling him, according to Romero. A few days later, after collapsing in his cell, Singh died of lung and heart failure caused by starvation.

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