Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
A string of over 10 incidents of escape by prison inmates from Sassoon General Hospital over the last 13 years — involving notorious criminals and persons charged with high-profile and serious cases — points to a security mechanism that has failed to adapt and improve despite repeated incidents and, as senior officers say, is in dire need of revamp. The latest one, the 11th, was reported when high-profile narcotics racket operative Lalit Anil Patil (34) escaped from the hospital late Monday evening, a day prior to his scheduled surgery.
Late on Tuesday night, as many as nine police personnel, including an officer of Sub Inspector rank and eight other constabulary staff, were placed under suspension pending two separate inquiries. Officials said that four police personnel were suspended in connection with the case in which Patil was found in possession of two high-end iPhones and was using them for allegedly running a drug cartel from the hospital where he was admitted since the first week of June for treatment of TB and hernia. Five others were suspended for dereliction of duty in the case in which Patil managed to escape from Sassoon hospital on Monday night.
Police commissioner Retesh Kumaarr confirmed that nine cops had been placed under suspension and that an inquiry was being conducted against them.
Officials said that Ward No 16 of Sassoon hospital serves as the separate ward for prison inmates referred from the infirmaries of prisons, mainly the Yerawada Central Prison.
“The ward has a capacity for 13 inmates and at any given time there are at least seven-eight inmates being treated for various ailments. There is a round-the-clock police guard comprising four constabulary staff, who are supervised by an officer of Sub Inspector rank. Considering the population of the Yerawada Central Prison, which is in the range of 6,000, this number of inmates requiring advanced medical care is not unusual. Considering the age profile of the entire prison population, most of the inmates who come here are from the age group of 30 to 45. In some cases, if an inmate is required to be treated at the ward of a specific department, a separate security detail can be arranged,” said an officer from Pune city police on the condition of anonymity.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) Rohidas Pawar said, “A review of security measures is now being planned. In the past, we have written to the authorities at Sassoon hospital that CCTV cameras be installed outside and inside the ward. Some have been installed in the lobby outside. However, the installation of cameras inside the ward did not go forward over privacy concerns. We will be reviewing the scenario again and will press for installation of cameras inside the ward, leaving some space outside camera view for change of clothes etc. We will also review the deployment guards to make it robust.”
Pawar added, “There was prima facie lapse on the part of the police guards on duty in both the cases and an inquiry has been initiated. Appropriate action will be taken following the outcome of the inquiry.”
Kumaarr said, “The security mechanism is certainly in need of a revamp. We will be holding joint meeting of all the stakeholders — the police, prison authorities and Sassoon hospital officials to work towards it. We will also device a mechanism wherein there is a monthly review of the security arrangements. There have been cases where accused in serious cases have spent longer durations in prison wards at the hospital. We will also have to work on a mechanism to avoid this and ensure this facility for advanced treatment is not misused.”
