• By Kamal Kumar
  • Sat, 12 Oct 2024 12:16 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Haridwar Jail Ramleela News:  A lively Ramleela performance took a dramatic twist in Uttarakhand's Haridwar jail when two prisoners dressed as 'Vanaras' (monkeys) escaped the prison. As the Ramlila scene unfolded, two inmates, playing the role of 'Vanaras' went out in search of Mata Sita and climbed over the compound boundary, from where they took off.

While Mata Sita was later located, the daring duo remained on the run, prompting the local police to launch a massive manhunt for the escaped inmates. According to reports, while the prison guards and other staff were busy watching the captivating play, both 'vanars' hatched their devious plan.

According to an X post by a senior Uttarakhand journalist, both inmates were charged with severe crimes. Moreover, the incident followed an unsettling report which claimed that over 500 prisoners, who were given respite during Covid-19 as parole and furlow - had not returned to the prisons.

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The two runaway inmates have been identified as Pankaj from Roorkee and Rajkumar from UP's Gonda district. According to a NBT report, they used a ladder to scale the prison boundary. The report also suggested that nobody got wind of their act due to the Ramleela and ongoing construction work.

While Pankaj was serving a life sentence for murder, Rajkumar was an undertrial prisoner in a kidnapping case. After the escape of the inmates, questions are being raised about the security arrangements of the prison administration. On the other hand, police officials said that a search for the accused is underway.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural) Haridwar, Pramod Dhobal, said that as soon as the district authorities were apprised of the matter, we started the combing and launched a search operation.

"We got the information through the control room this morning that two prisoners - one convicted and another one under trial escaped from the prison. Jail administration was checking it initially. When the district administration received the information - we started combing and checking at every place. A case has been registered under relevant sections. Soon, they will be arrested and legal action will be taken. Prisoner Pankaj was convicted u/s 302 of IPC and, prisoner Ram Kumar was under trial over the charge of kidnapping," the SSP said.

District Magistrate Karmendra Singh said that a departmental and magisterial investigation will also be conducted in the lapse.

"...Construction work is going on in the jail, also, Ramleela was being organised here, yesterday; taking benefit from this, both the prisoners escaped from the jail using a ladder. Certainly, it's an ignorance of jail administration. FIR has been registered, investigation is on. Departmentmental inquiry and magisterial investigation will be done," DM Singh said.