Convicted serial rapist and killer Jaishankar alias Shankar made a daring escape from the high-security Bangalore central jail in the wee hours of Sunday 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 bedsheets to climb down the wall.
This is the first jailbreak at the central prison here since it opened in 2000. Following the incident, 11 prison officers have been suspended for negligence. The police are examining the possibility of jail officers having helped the criminal.
Jaishankar was involved in the rape and murder of 11 women in Tamil Nadu and four women in Karnataka, including the wife of a policeman. He was convicted in three cases of kidnapping and rape. “Jaishankar was serving a jail term of 27 years and was kept isolated as he was suffering from psychological problems,” said K V Gagandeep, Karnataka ADGP (Prisons).
Police said he stole surgical gloves and bedsheets from the Hospital Ward in the prison. He was aware of the electrical fencing and stole the gloves to mitigate the threat. He was housed in Barrack 26 and a staff member called Boregowda was appointed to watch over him.
In his statement, Boregowda said till 11.15 pm on Saturday, Jaishankar was talking to him and after that he slept. “However, Jaishankar only pretended to be asleep and was waiting for Boregowda to sleep so that he can escape,” the police said.