Judicial probe into jail break

HYDERABAD, MARCH 31: The state government has ordered a judicial probe into the jail break incident at Nizamabad in which 72 undertrial pris...

HYDERABAD, MARCH 31: The state government has ordered a judicial probe into the jail break incident at Nizamabad in which 72 undertrial prisoners escaped from the district jail complex on Sunday.

Making a suo motu statement on the incident in the State Assembly today Home Minister A Madhav Reddy said the preliminary investigations by the senior officials revealed dereliction of duty on the part of the jail staff. He immediate suspended the jail superintendent, jailer and three wardens responsible for the incident. He said that if the officials were found guilty, the government would not hesitate to dismiss them from service.Madhav Reddy also announced that the government would constitute an advisory committee consisting of politicians and representatives of non-governmental organisations for each jail within a month to suggest measures for revamping the administrative set-up.

The Home Minister said that of the 72 prisoners, five escapees were already nabbed and intensive efforts to apprehend the remainingprisoners were on. He said that six wardens, including the deputy jailer, received injuries and were admitted to the Nizamabad government hospital.

The total strength of the guarding force of the jail was 47 and on the particular day, only 15 persons were on guard duty. Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the statement made by the Minister, Congress leaders P Janardhan Reddy and M Kodanda Reddy demanded the resignation of the Home Minister. They said the law and order situation in the state had deteriorated.

K Subba Raju CPI, Narra Raghav Reddy CPM, Baddam Bal Reddy BJP and Lakshmi Parvathi NTR-TDP condemned the failure of the government machinery in preventing jail break incidents and demanded a thorough revamp of jails in the state.

Government chief whip R Chandrasekhar Reddy suggested that the government bring about qualitative reforms in the administration of prisons. Later, replying to questions raised by members, Madhav Reddy said the government would take necessary steps to prevent therecurrence of jail breaks.Congress members later staged a walkout when the Home Minister rejected their demand to resign from office owing moral responsibility for the incident.