Nabha jailbreak: 9 lapses that led to escape of 2 terrorists, 4 gangsters
From ignoring alerts to installing CCTV at entry gates, the Punjab Police failed miserably in ensuring security of its high-security Nabha jail.
In Short
- Police ignored intelligence alert about ISI being active in the state.
- ID cards of intruders were not checked at the entry gate.
- Inmates posted updates about jailbreak after the incident.
On the lazy Sunday morning, the nation woke up to the shocking jailbreak in Patiala and escape of two hardened terrorists and four gangsters.
It has now appeared that several glaring mistakes were committed by the administration, which led to the escape of Khalistan Liberation Force chief Harminder Singh Mintoo and five other inmates from the high security Nabha jail.
Drug dealer Parwinder Singh, who was among the intruders, was arrested from Shamli in UP on Sunday while Mintoo was nabbed by a joint team of IB and police teams of Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi from Nizamuddin railway station on Monday morning.
READ| Nabha jailbreak: This is how Harminder Singh Mintoo was arrested
Here are the nine failures, which resulted in the embarrassing incident for the security agencies:
ADVISORY/ALERT GONE FOR A TOSS
An alert issued two months back warned about how Pakistan's ISI was teaming up with pro-Khalistan groups and militants.
The advisory stated that the ISI was working with drug peddlers and gangsters in order to disrupt Punjab elections. But, despite alert having been sounded, adequate security apparatus were not put in place.
VIGILANCE FAILURE
The jail manual was not followed as identity cards were not checked at the entry gate of the Nabha jail.
The 12 armed men were let inside the jail just by looking at their police uniforms. This allowed the attackers, some of whom were said to be gangsters, enter the jail premises without any trouble.
WATCH:
CCTV INSTALLATION PROBLEM
Punjab being a border state has been considered as a sensitive state. Terrorist attacks were carried out by the gunmen from across the border at Pathankot and Gurdaspur earlier this year.
In spite of looming terror threat, no CCTV was installed near the main gate at the Nabha jail. Attackers seem to have been aware of this lapse in security. As a result, the agencies have to depend on the statements of two arrested persons, Parwinder Singh and Mintoo for the identity of the attackers.
NOT ADEQUATE LIGHT AT ENTRY
The entry gate of the Nabha jail is dimly lighted. Proper lighting at the main gate might have given the security personnel a better idea about the attackers, who claimed that they were police officials.
NO RESISTANCE BY JAIL POLICEMEN
While the armed men fired about 100 rounds, the policemen posted on the jail campus did not return the fire.
It has emerged that not a single bullet was fired as the attacked continued firing bullets. No security personnel tried to defend the attack on jail.
However, it is not yet clear as to how many policemen were on duty Sunday morning.
INMATES ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
In a shocking revelation, it has also emerged that the inmates posted updates on Facebook and shared messages on WhatsApp soon after the jailbreak.
As per the jail manuals, the inmates are not allowed to use mobile phones inside the prison. It is surprising that how the inmates got mobile phones inside the high security jail.
In one Facebook post, updated by one Shera Khubban gang, the message reads, "They can`t dare to encounter our brothers else we will not leave Badals."
It is then not a surprise that accused Parwinder was in possession of a video footage of the interiors of Nabha jail. UP Police have not confirmed the authenticity of the video recording.
NO JAMMER INSTALLED
While the prisoners got their mobile phones smuggled inside the jail, the administration failed to make sure that they did not use it.
There was no jammer installed on the Nabha jail campus. It is learnt that jail administration was asked to send a proposal for installation of jammer, but it did not pay heed to the request.
NO COBRA FENCING
Cobra fencing is the norm around jail boundary at the outer wall to make it difficult for any trespassing from outside or jumping from inside.
There was no such protective fencing at the Nabha jail. It clearly shows negligence on part of the jail administration.
CRUMBLING ENTRY GATE
Nabha jail is said to be the most secure jail in Punjab. But, its main gate, which the armed men to enter the premises, is very weak and in decaying state.
Had the security personnel tried to stop the armed men, the attackers would not have found any difficulty in breaking the gate. Only a strong push could break the entry gate of what is being touted as a high security jail in Punjab.