NEW DELHI, 18 December 2007 — Embarrassed authorities in central India have stepped up prison security and suspended five officials after jailed Maoist rebels overpowered guards and freed 299 inmates, authorities said yesterday.
According to a police official, a Maoist rebel leader named Sujit overpowered a guard, snatching his weapon, and then shooting and injuring three other guards. The Maoist rebel leader then freed other prisoners, including a number of jailed Maoist rebels, who snatched six rifles and a wireless set before escaping.
Senior police officer Rahul Sharma said that the jailbreak was a “pre-meditated conspiracy” hatched by prisoners, mainly Naxal supporters, awaiting trial. He added that the jailbreak happened when prisoners had come out of their barracks and assembled for food.
“Everything happened in a flash,” police sources said, adding there were only four guards at a time when there should have been at least 16 guards on duty. The prison break was over in just 10 minutes. By the time reinforcements arrived around 35 minutes later, the prisoners had fled.
Dantewada Prison is located at a secluded spot surrounded by jungles, around eight to nine kilometers from the town of Dantewada. Escapees are expected to have either fled to Bailadila, where Maoists have a strong presence, or to the River Irrawadi, 25 kilometers away.
Ram Vichar Netam, Chhattisgarh state home minister, acknowledged that there was a lapse in security at the jail. Five jail officials, including the jailor, have been suspended due to the outbreak, said N.K. Aswal, Chhattisgarh’s principal home secretary.
The prison officers were suspended following an emergency meeting held by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh late Sunday night. Singh also announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Police officials were also asked to plug jail security loopholes in the state.
Jails across Chhattisgarh and in neighboring states, particularly those housing Maoist militants, have been put on high alert. Chhattisgarh has also sought help from neighboring states like Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to apprehend the escapees.
Director General of Jails Sant Kumar Paswan described the incident as “shocking and surprising.” “The government in on war footing to track down the Maoists, who have escaped,” he said.
