Major Security Breach at Ayodhya Jail: Two Undertrials Escape, Seven Officials Suspended
A routine morning head count at Ayodhya district jail on Thursday turned into a major security crisis when officials discovered that two undertrial prisoners were missing from their quarantine barrack. The incident has triggered a statewide alert and exposed serious lapses in prison security protocols.
Escape Through Broken Wall
When jail staff rushed to investigate the missing inmates, they found a section of the barrack wall had been broken open. The prisoners had apparently used this opening to make their escape from the facility. The quarantine barrack where they were lodged is located close to the main boundary wall of the jail, making their escape route particularly concerning for security officials.
The two escaped undertrials have been identified as Golu Agrahari alias Suraj from Amethi district and Sher Ali from Sultanpur district. Agrahari was facing charges in a rape case while Ali was involved in an attempt to murder case, according to jail records.
Immediate Fallout and Suspensions
Following the security breach, Director General of the Uttar Pradesh Prisons Department, P C Meena, ordered the immediate suspension of seven jail officials. Those suspended include:
- Superintendent U C Mishra
- Jailor J K Yadav
- Deputy Jailor Mayank Tripathi
- One head warder
- Three warders
Additional Director General/Inspector General of Ayodhya Range, Praveen Kumar, confirmed the escape and stated that an extensive search operation has been launched to trace the missing inmates. The District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police were immediately dispatched to the jail to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident.
Search Operations Intensify
Multiple police teams, working in coordination with jail security staff, have launched an extensive manhunt across the region. The search operation involves checking possible escape routes, monitoring transportation hubs, and conducting raids in areas where the escaped prisoners might seek shelter.
According to administration sources, the inmates were last seen during the 6 PM headcount on Wednesday when they were being sent back to their barrack. During the routine morning headcount on Thursday, jail warders and the head warder discovered that Agrahari and Ali were missing from the inmate lineup.
Security Concerns and Similar Incidents
Senior officials are investigating how the prisoners managed to scale the main boundary wall after breaking through their barrack wall. This incident has raised serious questions about security arrangements at Uttar Pradesh prisons.
This escape follows a similar incident on January 4 when two inmates escaped from Kannauj district jail by scaling the boundary wall. Those prisoners remain at large, highlighting a pattern of security vulnerabilities in the state's prison system.
The Ayodhya jailbreak has prompted authorities to review security protocols across all prisons in Uttar Pradesh. The incident comes at a time when prison security is under increased scrutiny following several high-profile escapes in recent months.
As the search for the escaped undertrials continues, questions are being raised about the adequacy of security measures, staff vigilance, and infrastructure maintenance at correctional facilities in the state. The suspended officials face departmental proceedings while the investigation into the escape continues.
