Chief minister sends police team to Baramulla to trace Pallavi’s killer

MUMBAI: The state home department, led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday dispatched a police team to Baramulla in Kashmir to trace convict Sajjad Pathan, who jumped parole in April. Pathan, a security guard in a Wadala building, was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha in August 2012 and was lodged in Nashik central jail. Principal secretary (prisons) Vijay Satbir Singh told TOI that a team of Nashik police officers is expected to reach Baramulla on Wednesday.“Our team will interact with the Jammu and Kashmir police and draft an action plan to trace Pathan. We are sure he will be nabbed soon,” Singh said.
On the probe into Pathan’s disappearance after his parole ended, Singh said DIG (prisons) Rajendra Dhamne, who was entrusted with the investigation, is expected to submit his report on Thursday. “Dhamne has discussed the case with jail and revenue officials.”
Meanwhile, a senior IPS officer said the home department has convened a meeting on Friday to discuss if there is a need to tighten the rules for granting parole and furlough. At present, while furlough or leave is granted to convicts by the jail administration, parole is granted by a divisional commissioner. “In view of the embarrassment caused to the government after Pathan jumped parole, there is a proposal to review the powers of the divisional commissioner to grant parole,” he added.
The senior IPS officer said it has been proposed that powers to grant parole be entrusted to a deputy inspector general (DIG) or inspector general (IG)-level officer and the appeal against the decision of DIG or IG be heard by the additional director general of police. “We found that as per the existing procedure, as the appeal is heard by the home secretary, there was inordinate delay in disposing of appeals. It was felt that the powers should be entrusted to the additional DG rank IPS official,” he said.
Also, the IPS officer said, the existing system of securing guarantees or sureties before release of prisoners appears flawed. “We are accepting security of Rs 5,000 or Rs 6,000, which is very less. Parole and furlough conditions must be stringent. If the convict jumps parole or furlough, then the guarantor must be arrested immediately.” The IPS officer said all proposals for amendment to parole and furlough rules will be placed before the chief minister for approval.