In a major security lapse, three prisoners convicted to life imprisonment managed to escape from the high-security Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan (LNJP) Central Jail in Hazaribag in the early hours of Wednesday. The incident has raised serious questions about the security protocols at the facility, which houses several high-profile inmates.
The Escape and the Convicts
The escaped inmates have been identified as Jeetendra Rajwar, Rahul Rajwar, and Dolo Bhuiyan. All three were convicted in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and are residents of Dhanbad district. According to Jail Superintendent Chandrashekhar Suman, the trio escaped between 1 am and 2 am on Wednesday. Their absence was discovered only during the routine morning head count.
Preliminary investigations reveal a daring escape plan. The prisoners first sought permission to use the toilet. From there, they managed to get out through a window. They then proceeded to gate number four of the prison complex. To scale the formidable 17-foot-high boundary wall, the convicts used a rope they had fashioned by piecing together tent cloth. In a final act to aid their flight, they also cut the wires supplying power to the outer wire fencing of the jail.
Security Review and Immediate Fallout
The audacious escape comes just days after the Director General of Police (DGP), Tadasha Mishra, personally inspected the jail and reviewed its security arrangements. This timing has put the jail administration under intense scrutiny.
Superintendent Suman pointed towards the negligence of on-duty officials and stated, “The matter is being thoroughly investigated, and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.” Following the incident, senior officials, including Jail IG Sudarshan Mandal, rushed to Hazaribag from Ranchi to enquire into the breach.
State-Wide Manhunt Launched
District police and jail authorities have launched a massive search operation to recapture the escaped convicts. A case has been registered at the Lohsinghna police station in connection with the jailbreak. Subdivisional Police Officer Amit Kumar Anand confirmed that the search is underway and that Dhanbad police have been alerted, given the convicts' native district. However, no arrests had been made until Wednesday evening.
This escape has once again highlighted critical vulnerabilities in the security of a prison that houses several Maoists, hardened criminals, and high-profile undertrials. A high-level probe has been ordered to determine the exact reasons behind this significant security failure.
