3 Covid positive undertrials flee Diphu jail in Assam

GUWAHATI: Three undertrial prisoners, who were kept in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19, fled from the district jail located at Diphu in Assam's Karbi Anglong, taking dvantage of security lapse and heavy rain on Tuesday night.
The accused have been identified as Abdul Ainul Ali, Idris Ali and Ajmir. Abdul was arrested in connection with a theft case while the other two were held in a drug peddling case. They were sent to jail on Monday.
Jail superintendent Tapan Kumar Chutia, who did not directly admit the security lapse, said, "As per protocol, the accused were tested for Covid-19 and were found positive on Monday. They were kept in isolation rooms. It was raining heavily on Tuesday night and there was no power supply at that time. The accused took advantage and fled by breaking the window of the room where they were kept in isolation."
IG (prisons) Barnali Sharma said the matter will be nvestigated as to how the accused could flee the jail despite there being enough security. She added that the question of security lapse will also be investigated and action will be initiated against officers if anyone is found guilty. The police have started a search operation for the trio.
"There are jungles in the nearby area of the jail. The accused have probably taken the advantage of the jungle to flee. There might be a security lapse in the jail. All police stations have been alerted. We will net them soon," a police officer said.