LUCKNOW/JHANSI: In a major security breach at the Banda jail, where don Mukhtar Ansari is lodged, an undertrial escaped by scaling the prison’s boundary wall with the help of a bamboo stick on Sunday night.
An extensive search was launched which went in vain for several hours.
However, around 4.30pm on Monday, jail authorities claimed to have found the accused, Vijay Arakh, 22, hiding in the bushes between the inner and the outer boundary of the Banda jail.
The incident has raised questions over the security at Banda jail and exposed the claims of jail officials about foolproof arrangements to guard Mukhtar who were brought here on April 7 from Punjab’s Ropar jail on the Supreme Court’s directive.
The security apparatus includes deployment of 22 additional personnel, installation of 38 CCTV cameras and aerial surveillance by drones.
Vijay Aarakh was found missing from barrack number 4 during the head count at 8:30pm on Sunday.
The emergency alarm was raised and three police teams were formed to trace him at possible spots, including his native village in Banda.
DIG Chitrakoot range, K Satyanarayan, told TOI that the accused was a first time offender and had been arrested for theft and trespassing..
DIG jails, Prayagraj range, Sanjeev Tripathi, who supervised the search operation, said any jail official found responsible for the incident would face action.
Tripathi also inspected the jail on Monday morning.
Sources told TOI that 30 personnel form the security cordon around Mukhtar’s barrack while the area where Vijay was lodged has 338 prisoners and with just one policeman on duty for four hours each.
They said Vijay was lodged in the prison on February 6 this year and knew the prison area.
“He picked up a bamboo stick from the food storeroom of the jail and then scaled the inner wall which is about eight feet high using the bamboo,” said an officer.
Senior jail officials said Vijay belongs to the ‘Nat’ community and is skilled in using bamboo sticks.
They added that Vijay had missed out on securing bail on the grounds of Covid pandemic.