HOW IT HAPPENED
* Undertrial was engaged to dump waste by the side of the jail
* Unsuspecting guard stands watching from a distance as the undertrial proceeds to dump waste
* Undertrial takes to his heels, escapes through thick vegetation
* Massive combing operation launched; no sign of undertrial till late evening
MAPUSA
The security apparatus at the Colvale Central jail has come under scrutiny after an undertrial escaped the high security jail on Tuesday morning.
Jail authorities swung into action and placed the jail guard, who was assigned to keep a watch on the undertrial, under suspension.
Authorities also launched a massive combing operation but failed to trace the escaped detainee till late in the evening.
The undertrial, Hemraj Bhardwaj, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, managed to give the “tight” security the slip and escape from the jail premises at around 11.15 am, while in the process of dumping jail waste.
The accused was arrested in January this year in an NDPS case.
According to sources in the jail, the undertrial was engaged to dump the waste by the side of the jail premises, much against the jail protocol. As per the jail manual, convicts are only assigned jobs within the jail premises.
The unsuspecting jail guard stood watching from a distance as the undertrial was sent to dump the waste.
Seizing the opportunity, the under trial took to his heels and escaped through the thick vegetation behind the jail premises.
Meanwhile, the jail guard who was caught off guard alerted his other colleagues and launched a massive operation to trace the undertrial, but without any success.
The Additional Inspector of Prisons Ashutosh Apte informed that the jail guard has been suspended for recklessness and for failing to maintain a watch on the undertrial.
He also said an FIR has been filed in the Mapusa Police Station against the undertrial who has escaped from the jail.
“In normal circumstances, all work is assigned to the convicts. In this case, an undertrial was asked to do the work without our authority. The jail guard, Prakash Naik, has been placed under suspension,” Apte said.
