Nabha jail break, an eye-opener

The audacious escape of six prisoners, including two Khalistani militants and four gangsters, from Punjab’s high-security Nabha jail had all the elements of a sensational film event. The meticulous planning that went into it and its successful execution were of great theatrical appeal, with some suspension of disbelief, and it would have been difficult to believe that it could be enacted in the real world. But it actually happened when a group of men in police dress went inside the jail, past saluting guards, and took away the waiting prisoners after firing some shots, all within a few minutes. There was no resistance except for some ‘’ineffective’’ firing from some guards away from the men who drove away. It shows how poor the security system is in jails, and that sense is conveyed with great effect through the high drama that happened. But it is no matter of great surprise that it happened in Nabha.

The Nabha jail break is not an isolated incident. There were over 30 cases of escape from prisons last year. Jails in Punjab have been known for poor administration, lax enforcement of rules, corruption and pervasive crime. Gangsters actually operate and do their business from jails, threatening people, getting rivals and others killed or kidnapped and engaging in other illegal activities. They are safe inside the jails. The drug mafia which has links everywhere has its reach inside the jails. The nexus between prisoners, officials, jail staff and the police is strong and all of them have political links and patronage. Prisoners have access to all facilities and luxuries like mobile phones, internet, drugs and good food. The unholy links between criminals and the police have steadily grown in the state. The Akali-BJP government has not been able to improve the situation. In fact, it has faced charges of being a part of the problem. 

One Khalistani militant and the alleged mastermind behind the jail break have been arrested. Some officials have been suspended. An enquiry has been ordered. But the conditions in jails, which make such escapes easy and possible, are unlikely to change for the better. Efforts in the past to improve the conditions have not yielded results. The situation is not very different in jails in other states either. The difference may only be in degree. Overcrowding, corruption, political interference, mismanagement and security lapses are common in all jails. The Nabha jail break has also become a political issue with Punjab going in for assembly elections in the next few months. But reforming the jail system is in nobody’s agenda.