Convicted serial rapist Jaishankar early on Sunday made a daring escape from the high-security Bangalore central jail at Parappana Agrahara after scaling a 30-foot high wall with the help of a garden pole. He used a duplicate key to open his cell door and made use of bedsheets to climb down the wall. This is the first jailbreak at the central prison ever since it was opened in 2000.
Following this, 11 officers of the prison have been suspended for negligence. The department and police are looking at the possibility of jail officers having helped the criminal.
Jaishankar alias Shankar, son of late Maarimuthu, was involved in the rape and murder of 11 women in Tamil Nadu and four women in Karnataka, including the wife of a police constable. He was convicted in three cases of kidnapping and rape. “Jaishankar was serving a jail term of 27 years and was kept isolated in a separate cell as he was suffering from psychological problems,” Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) K V Gagandeep told Express.
Police said he had stolen surgical gloves and some bedsheets from the hospital ward in the prison. Jaishankar was aware of the electrical fencing and stole the gloves for that purpose. He was housed in Barrack 26 and a staffer named Boregowda, was appointed to watch over him.
On Saturday, he was taken to a Tumkur court where he is facing trial in one of the cases registered against him. After returning, he was lodged in the high-security cell and Boregowda was on duty.
In his statement, Boregowda told police that till 11.15 pm Jaishankar was talking to him and after that he slept. “However, Jaishankar only pretended to be sleeping and was waiting for Boregowda to sleep so that he can escape,” police said.
“Between 2 am and 3 am, Jaishankar got out of his cell using duplicate keys. He managed to scale two compound walls, which are 15 feet high, before climbing down the 30-foot-high main compound, which connects the hospital building on the left side of the jail,” Gagandeep said. “The incident came to light around 6 am when the staff noticed that he was missing.”
Jaishankar used a police waist belt to cross over the electric fencing on top of the wall. Unfortunately for the jail officials, power supply to the fence was disconnected as it was under service due to heavy rain over the past two days.
Who is Jaishankar
■ Jaishankar, a native of Tamil Nadu, was sent to jail in 2011
■ He was involved in 19 cases of rape and murder in Tamil Nadu, including the murder of two police constables
■ Involved in 7 cases in Karnataka; 5 in Chitradurga and 2 Tumkur districts
■ Police announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest
■ He was arrested by Bijapur police near Zalki check post
Hole in the wall
■Capacity of prison 2,100 inmates
■Current strength 4,500 inmates
■Required jail staff 250 personnel
■Current staff position 180 personnel
At the time of the incident, there had been no power for the past one-and-a-half hours, which worked to Jaishankar’s advantage. Police are now investigating if the timing of the power cut was deliberate.
It is said that Jaishankar had allegedly studied the prison premises earlier. The CCTV footage was also useless as there was no coverage of the area where he scaled the wall. “We found blood marks at the spot where he fell while climbing down. Bedsheets and a belt were found. Since he was serving 27 years imprisonment, he was desperate to escape” Gagandeep added.
The suspended jail officials include an ASI, jailers and security staff. Police have formed three special teams to investigate the escape and track Jaishankar. DCP (SE) T D Pawar, told Express, “We are checking inputs of CCTV camera.”
After diverting the attention of the jail staff, Shankar got an impression of the key on a soap a few months ago. With the help of the staff, he used the impression on the soap to get a duplicate one in the lathe section in the prison. The prisons department has ordered demolition of two walls that connect to the compound wall. It also ordered to change the electric fencing to prevent such incidents in future.
How did the great escape happen?
■ On Saturday, Jaishankar was taken to a Tumkur court in connection with a case registered against him.
■ After returning in the evening, he was locked up in the high security cell. Till 11.15 pm, Shankar was talking with a jail staffer named to watch over him.
■ Around 12.30 am, Boregowda slept while Jaishankar feigned sleep.
■ Between 2 am to 3 am, he got out of the cell using duplicate keys. Wearing police uniform, he first jumped two 15 feet compound walls and finally climbed a 30 feet main wall with help of a pole in the garden.
■ By using the belt to cross the electric fence he jumped from the wall and escaped. Police suspect he had also used rope, hand gloves and bedsheets.
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