Police foil jail break attempt in Shillong

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Aug 12: Meghalaya police on Friday foiled an attempt by arrested underground cadres to escape from the Shillong district jail.

According to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP), Mariahom Kharkrang, based on certain intelligence inputs, the East Khasi Hills district police foiled the jail break attempt by cadres of the ULFA (I), GNLA and HNLC.

Kharkrang also said that others who were involved in the jailbreak attempt were those Under Trial Prisoners (UTPs) arrested for heinous offences and who were lodged in the high security cell of the district jail in Shillong.

“As soon as the input was received, a surprise check was made by the East Khasi Hills District Police and Magistrate at 2 pm today at the high security cell premises and after combing the thick undergrowth behind the cell, knotted ropes of 16.5 ft length made out of synthetic woolen blankets were found hidden in the bushes near the real wall of the high security area,” Kharkrang said.

The SP also said that on further searching, two improvised iron hooks were also found with a makeshift rope ladder also found hidden under an abandoned sentry post.

He also informed that from the bathroom at the first floor of the high security cell, several torn strips of blankets meant for preparing the ropes were found.

The items which were recovered were seized in presence of magistrate and jail authorities.

Kharkrang also said that a case is being registered and investigation is on to unearth the conspiracy behind it.

Meanwhile Home Minister Roshan Warjri said that she had asked for a report on the incident.

On steps taken by the government to address such problem, especially when a number of jail breaks had occurred in the past, Warjri said that security audit of the jails in the state were conducted by the home (jails) department some time back along with certain recommendations.