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Jail break

November 19, 2016 | Expert Insights

On 31 October 2016, eight SIMI activists escaped from the Central Jail, Bhopal. The jail-break occurred before 2AM, after the activists killed a security guard and scaled the prison walls, using bedsheets. Within 10 hours of the jail-break, the STF (MP CT Force), traced them down to Malikheda, where they were encircled and killed, when they tried to challenge the police.

Assessment
There were apparently serious security lapses in Bhopal Central Jail, which allowed the eight activists, to get away. Under-trained and under-motivated prison staff in Indian jails, have been responsible for 91 jail-breaks, between 2007-12. The STF (Special task Force) is a newly acquired CT asset of MP Government. Prima-facie, it appears that excessive and perhaps unnecessary force was used, to apprehend the jail-breakers.