Superintendent of Srinagar Central Jail suspended over escape of militant from SMHS hospital

Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday suspended superintendent of Srinagar Central Jail two days after Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Naveed Jatt escaped from the police custody during a visit to a hospital.

"Pending enquiry into the incident on February 6, 2018, at SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, leading to the death of the two constables and escape of a militant, Hilal Ahmed Rather, Superintendent, Central Jail, Srinagar is hereby placed under suspension, with immediate effect," an order issued by Principal Secretary Home Department, said.

It further said the officer shall remain attached with Director General of Police, Prisons, till further orders.

Earlier, State police chief Shesh Pal Vaid had admitted that the attack was not possible without connivance at the Srinagar Central Jail, where Naveed was lodged.

"Srinagar Central Jail has been a paradise for militants to plan and execute their plans right from 1989. Inside the jail, there is writ of militants going on as jail authorities feel helpless before them due to various reasons," sources told Deccan Herald.

"Several times in the past, police authorities had forwarded the complaints about the system being lax on prisoners at the Central Jail, but in vain. There are loopholes in the system and militants are taking an advantage of that," they revealed.

A police officer said that the decision to send Naveed for a 'medical check-up' to SMHS hospital was taken by a lady doctor posted at the Central Jail over a month ago following a court order. "However, due to the reasons best known to the authorities at the jail, the order was deferred. There is all likelihood that a section of jail staff is involved in Naveed's escape," he claimed.

Besides Naveed, five other prisoners, including, under-trial Seeratul Hassan involved in the lynching of Dy SP Ayub Pandith, were taken from the Central Jail to the hospital for medical check-up on court directions.