Khandwa: A day after seven suspected SIMI members escaped from a jail in Khandwa, the Madhya Pradesh government has suspended the district jail in-charge and chief wardens.
In a daring pre-dawn jailbreak amid a hail of gunfire, accused of heinous crimes including murder, escaped from the district prison after allegedly stabbing two security guards, looting rifles and snatching wireless sets.
Meanwhile, Khandwa Collector Neeraj Dube has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident, which will be conducted by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) SS Baghel. Dube has asked for the probe report within seven days, according to sources.
Following the audacious prison break, which could not be thwarted despite an exchange of fire, the Centre has sought an explanation from the state government, which launched a manhunt and apprehended one of the escapees.
The prisoners, who broke the wall of the bathroom in their escape bid, were challenged by two constables whom they stabbed with knives and snatched their rifles, Khandwa Superintendent of Police Manoj Sharma said.
There was an exchange of fire as two jawans of the Cheetah force tried to prevent the escape. However, they were also overpowered. The outlaws grabbed their rifles and wireless sets before fleeing.
Injured constables Lokesh Hirve and Suro Tiwari have been hospitalised, Sharma said. The seven SIMI activists have been identified as Amjad, Aslam, Zakir, Mehboob (all from Khandwa), Ejazuddin (of Narsinh Yard, Kareli), Abu Faizal (from Juhu, Andheri in Mumbai) and Aabid Mirza (of Oont Kuwan, Hatampura in Khandwa). Aabid Mirza was, however, apprehended hours later from Sarvodaya Colony here.
Taking a serious note of the brazen escape, the Union Home Ministry has asked the state government to explain the circumstances leading to the jailbreak and measures taken to nab the escapees, official sources said.
State's minister for jails Antar Singh Arya has asked principal secretary of his department to conduct a probe. Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), banned in 2001, is alleged to have links with banned home-grown terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) and several of its top leaders are in jails.
With Additional Inputs From PTI
Comments
0 comment