Superintendent suspended over Tihar jailbreak lapse

A superintendent of Tihar Jail was suspended by the Delhi government on Monday over the jailbreak attempt by two undertrial prisoners last month.

Teenagers Javed and Faizan had scaled two 13-foot high walls and managed to dig a 10-foot tunnel under a 16-foot high and two-foot thick wall in their escape bid.

Faizan, however, failed to flee due to a fractured leg, while Javed was nabbed after two days in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district.

According to Delhi government, superintendent of jail 7 O P Bhatti was suspended after a magisterial inquiry was conducted on an order by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and an internal probe was conducted under the supervision of superintendent of jail 3 M K Dwivedi. 

“O P Bhatti has been suspended following approval from the Lieutenant Governor and disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated,” said a Delhi government officer.
Sources said Bhatti has been held responsible for lapses.

Javed and Faizan were present during the morning headcount on June 27, but were found missing during the evening roll call.

It is alleged that the jail authorities conducted a search operation for almost 24 hours before they approached police.

A case over the jailbreak was registered on the basis of Bhatti’s complaint with Hari Nagar police station.

“The government is of the view that a free and fair inquiry will only be possible after the concerned officer no longer remains in a position to influence the outcome of the probe,” the officer added.

The government has also directed the jail authorities to ensure that till the time the order remains in force, “the headquarters of this officer should be in Delhi and the said officer shall not leave the headquarters without obtaining the previous permission of the competent authority.”

In the inquiry ordered by Jung, District Magistrate (South West) Ankur Garg focused on the factors and circumstances leading to the incident. Garg was assisted by officers from Delhi Prisons, Delhi Police and Public Works Department.

Garg also reviewed the security set-up of the jail. Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain has also sought a detailed report from the jail authorities on the state of affairs in the prison and has also sought a proposal on what immediate steps can be taken to improve the functioning of the jail.