HARIDWAR: Two inmates fled from Haridwar District Jail Friday evening when guards and officials were engrossed in a Ramlila performance inside the prison. The prisoners, one serving a life sentence and another awaiting trial, escaped unnoticed until it was too late for prison authorities to track them.
Even as Haridwar was agog with rumours that the two escapees were playing the role of monkeys in the ‘vanar sena’ (Lord Ram’s army of monkeys) and pretending to search for Sita when they fled, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a probe into the incident. The investigation will be headed by DIG Prison. Meanwhile, six jail staffers have been suspended on charges of dereliction of duty.
One of the escapees, Pankaj , is a sharpshooter from Praveen Valmiki gang, and was sentenced to life for the murder of a sanitation worker in Roorkee. The other, Rajkumar , hailing from UP’s Gonda is an undertrial facing charges of kidnapping. A third prisoner attempted to escape but failed to climb the wall.
Haridwar DM Karmendra Singh told TOI that the prisoners exploited the jail administration’s negligence. “Jail officials and guards were preoccupied with the show when three prisoners took advantage of the situation and escaped.”
Days before their escape, the three inmates had spotted two ladders left at a construction site inside the jail. During the Ramlila performance, they used the distraction to tie the ladders with clothes and scale the prison wall.
Jail authorities had started the tradition of Ramlila inside the prison a few years ago, allowing inmates to take part in acting while others, including guards, watched.
Cops have filed a case and formed several teams to hunt for the accused. Authorities said that around 550 prisoners released on parole during Covid remain unaccounted for.
Even as Haridwar was agog with rumours that the two escapees were playing the role of monkeys in the ‘vanar sena’ (Lord Ram’s army of monkeys) and pretending to search for Sita when they fled, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a probe into the incident. The investigation will be headed by DIG Prison. Meanwhile, six jail staffers have been suspended on charges of dereliction of duty.
One of the escapees, Pankaj , is a sharpshooter from Praveen Valmiki gang, and was sentenced to life for the murder of a sanitation worker in Roorkee. The other, Rajkumar , hailing from UP’s Gonda is an undertrial facing charges of kidnapping. A third prisoner attempted to escape but failed to climb the wall.
Haridwar DM Karmendra Singh told TOI that the prisoners exploited the jail administration’s negligence. “Jail officials and guards were preoccupied with the show when three prisoners took advantage of the situation and escaped.”
Days before their escape, the three inmates had spotted two ladders left at a construction site inside the jail. During the Ramlila performance, they used the distraction to tie the ladders with clothes and scale the prison wall.
Jail authorities had started the tradition of Ramlila inside the prison a few years ago, allowing inmates to take part in acting while others, including guards, watched.
Cops have filed a case and formed several teams to hunt for the accused. Authorities said that around 550 prisoners released on parole during Covid remain unaccounted for.
You may also like
LeBron James reaches out to JuJu Watkins as Caitlin Clark 'pressure' addressed
Future Food Foundry invests more than $5 million in Greeneration
Kin alleges 'baby swap' at hospital
Strictly's Dianne Buswell uses unique way to banish negative energy during training
US 'Satisfied' After Meeting Indian Officials Over Alleged Assassination Plot Of Sikh Separatist Pannun
Mumbai: Fake Cop Tries To Extort ₹50,000 From Collegian Over E-Cigarette In Andheri's MIDC; Watch VIDEO
Mumbai Police Launch Manhunt: Look Out Circular Issued For Shubham Lonkar As Investigation Reveals Sinister Conspiracy Behind Baba Siddique's Assassination And Zeeshan Akhtar Involvement
BJP demands Sidda's resignation
eZhire achieves 102% annual growth
'Was pressured to frame CM in Valmiki scam'
'Dine and dash' group flee restaurant after racking up £174 bill as police issue images
Jake Paul set to switch sports immediately after Mike Tyson boxing fight
In West Bengal hospital, 9 twin pairs born in 24 hrs
Emmerdale's Ruby makes life-changing decision as death secret revealed
Hollywood star Adam Brody poses with star-struck mum at soft-play in Glasgow
NSUI neta held for murder of Chhattisgarh cop's wife, daughter
Mrs Brown's Boys black worker quit over Brendan O'Carroll's racist 'joke' - star on final warning
DMK neta's son found dead, family blames sand mafia
Carlos Alcaraz puts Rafael Nadal on alert after setting up last clash before icon retires
Did Meghan Markle lie about daughter Lilibet's name? Prince Harry too...