Week after lifer convicted of murder ran away from prison, state government still sitting on proposal
Week after lifer convicted of murder ran away from prison, state government still sitting on proposal
A week after a murder convict managed to escape from the high-security Yerawada Central Jail, the proposal to install searchlights inside the jail is still waiting for the state's nod.
Balasaheb Pawar (36) of Ahmednagar ran away on August 15 with the help of a makeshift ladder he put together at a blacksmith workshop in the prison.
Pawar's escape had exposed lapses in jail security. The police are still hunting for Pawar.
Not a new proposal
DIG Suresh Chavan said, "The proposal to install searchlights inside the jail was sent much earlier to the state government. We are following up the matter and are hopeful that the state will look into it soon."
The lack of searchlights inside the jail was pointed out during the visit of Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe. Bagwe had then said that the searchlights would be installed immediately.
Bagwe, who visited the prison a day after the incident, had ordered the suspension of four policemen ufffd Kamlakar Mahale, Ganesh Phase, Dnyaneshwar Khade and Mahadeo Bhosale ufffd for negligence.
Jail official-inmate nexus?
Bagwe had warned that the incident pointed to a nexus between Pawar, the jail officials and some inmates.
An inquiry committee was set up under Chavan. "It is premature to disclose the inquiry findings. The findings can only be discussed after the committee submits its report," Chavan said.
Senior Police Inspector Dipak Sawant of Yerawada Police station said, "Our teams are on the lookout for Pawar. We have some leads."
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