UP: Two inmates escape Kannauj jail by scaling prison wall; five jail officials suspended

Kannauj (UP), Jan 5 (PTI) Two undertrial inmates escaped from the district jail at Anaugi, around 25 km from the Kannauj district headquarters, by scaling the prison wall on Sunday night, police said.

In this regard, five officials, including the jailer and deputy jailer, have been suspended by the authorities over their alleged negligence, an official said.

The escape came to light around 10 am on Monday during the routine headcount, when two prisoners were found missing, officials said.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinod Kumar said the inmates used blankets to fashion a rope and climbed over the jail wall to flee.

The escapees were identified as Dimpy alias Shiva, a resident of Malgawan village under Tathia police station, an undertrial in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Ankit, a resident of Hazarapur in Talgram police station area, jailed over alleged Arms Act violation.

After being informed by jail staff, Jail Superintendent Bhimsen Mukund alerted senior officers, following which SP Vinod Kumar and District Magistrate (DM) Ashutosh Mohan Agnihotri reached Anaugi jail, inspected the spot and sought details from jail authorities.

The SP said police teams have been formed and raids are being conducted at possible hideouts to nab the fugitives. "Efforts are on to arrest both inmates at the earliest," he said.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Kannauj district administration said the DM, having found prima facie evidence of negligence on the part of jail officials and staff, has initiated action to suspend Jailer Vinay Pratap Singh and Deputy Jailer Badri Prasad from the prison headquarters.

The DM has also initiated action to suspend jail warders Shivendra Singh Yadav, Atul Mishra, and Naveen Kumar through the senior jail superintendent.

Any negligence in prison security would be tolerated, the DM emphasised in the statement. PTI COR KIS NAV ARB ARB