What Led to the Tripura Jailbreak? Two Officials Suspended Amid Ongoing Manhunt

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two officials suspended for security lapses leading to inmate escape.
- Massive search operation underway to locate the remaining fugitives.
- Security of correctional facilities under scrutiny.
- International border monitored to prevent escape across borders.
- Importance of swift action by authorities emphasized.
Agartala, Oct 2 (NationPress) The government of Tripura has taken action against two officials following the escape of six inmates, consisting of five undertrial prisoners and one individual serving a life sentence, from a correctional facility, as confirmed by officials on Thursday.
A representative from the Jail department disclosed that Dhananjoy Bhattacharya, the Jailor, and Pallab Kanti Bhowmik, the Warder, have been suspended after the six inmates fled from the Dharmanagar Sub-Jail located in the North Tripura district on Wednesday.
Disciplinary measures will be initiated against both Bhattacharya and Bhowmik, the official stated.
An intensive manhunt is currently in progress for the second consecutive day on Thursday to apprehend the remaining five fugitives, since one of the escapees has already been caught.
The apprehended inmate, Abdul Patta, was arrested on Wednesday evening in South Chandrapur under the jurisdiction of the Dharmanagar police station.
According to officials, the six inmates escaped from the Dharmanagar Sub-Jail in the early hours of Wednesday after assaulting a guard with sharp weapons.
The incident occurred when the jail staff brought the inmates out of their cells for breakfast and daily hygiene.
The injured guard, Bedu Miah, is currently receiving treatment at the Dharmanagar District Hospital, where his condition is reported to be stable.
In response to the jailbreak, a large-scale search operation was promptly initiated by various security teams, and efforts to locate the escapees are ongoing.
The Superintendent of Police for North Tripura, Avinash Kumar Rai, is leading one of the search teams. All police stations and security outposts in North Tripura, as well as neighboring Unakoti districts, have been put on high alert.
“We have also reached out to the Border Security Force (BSF) to maintain a vigilant presence along the India-Bangladesh border to prevent the fleeing inmates from crossing over,” an official noted.
The North Tripura district shares state borders with Assam and Mizoram, in addition to an international border with Bangladesh.
As part of the security measures, “All exit points along Assam, Mizoram, and Bangladesh have been sealed following the incident to thwart the escape of the inmates,” the official added.
The five undertrial prisoners on the run include Abdul Pata, Rahim Ali, Narayan Chandra Dutta, Rosan Ali, and Nazim Uddin, while Sunil Debbarma, who has been convicted of serious crimes including murder, is serving a life sentence.
Notably, Narayan Chandra Dutta is a Bangladeshi national previously arrested in Tripura under various acts concerning passports, while Abdul Pata hails from Nilambazar in Assam’s Sribhumi district (formerly Karimganj district). Abdul Pata was previously detained under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 for his involvement in drug trafficking.