Centre seeks report from Punjab govt on Nabha jailbreak

Punjab jailbreak: Govt dismisses 2 jail officials, suspends DG Prisons

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government on Sunday suspended the Director General (Jails) and dismissed the Nabha Jail superintendent and deputy jail superintendent and set up a special task force to look into the Nabha jailbreak incident."DG Jails has been suspended and Jail Superintendent and Deputy Jail Superintendent have been dismissed," Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal , who also holds the home portfolio, told reporters.A manhunt has been launched to trace the prisoners who escaped, the Deputy CM said and added that a special task force has been formed to track them.Sukhbir said a special investigation team under the ADGP rank officer has also been constituted which shall look into lapses as well as any conspiracy theories surrounding the jail break incident."Special Investigation team has been asked to submit report within three days in this regard," he said.The home secretary has also been asked to submit a report on the incident."Home secretary will give me a report on wherever any lapse has taken place. Whosoever will be found responsible in this incident, strict action will be taken against him," he said.However, the Deputy CM said that there was no need to worry."They (prisoners) will not be allowed to run away. Police is after them. We will catch them soon," he said.Armed men in police uniform today stormed the high-security Nabha Jail in Patiala district, opening indiscriminate fire and fleeing with five prisoners including Khalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder Mintoo.Meanwhile, the Centre hassought a report from the state government asking it provide details of the incident.Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi also spoke to the Punjab DGP and asked him to ensure adequate security in all jails in the state.The Home Ministry asked the Punjab government to send the report about the jailbreak as early as possible and the steps taken to ensure security in the jails.The incident has come two days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh asked security forces to guard against attempts to disturb peace through "vicious" political campaign or by external extremist forces during the election process in Punjab and four other states.