Raising serious concerns over the efficacy of the security measures at the Poojappura Central Prison in the city, two inmates, including one who was awaiting capital punishment in a twin murder case, escaped from the prison in the wee hours of Monday.
Jayanandan alias Ripper Jayanandan, 45, a notorious criminal hailing from Mala, Thrissur, who was awaiting execution and Prakash alias Ooppa Prakash, 50, of Oachira, Kollam, escaped from the prison.
A deputy jailor and four wardens were placed under suspension and three staff employed on a temporary basis were terminated following the incident and a two-member police team has been assigned to nab the convicts. Jayanandan and Prakash were lodged in the same cell.
“Normally prisoners awaiting execution are put in isolated cells. But Prakash and Jayanandan were in the same cell since the prison was overcrowded,” said Superintendent Sam Thangiah.
According to the prison officials, the jailbreak came to their notice by around 4 a m during the routine inspection by the jail wardens.
It is suspected that the convicts escaped in plain dress, not in uniform, which they kept with them secretly.
The prisoners managed to break open the cell using hacksaw blade and escaped through the door near the kitchen. They managed to climb down the prison wall using wood pieces which were kept in the prison compound for construction purposes. A meeting was convened by DGP Prisons Alexander Jacob in the prison head quarters in the morning to assess the situation.
Deputy Jailor P R Rajeev, Chief warden P V Ibrahim, head wardens Abdul Rasheed, Prathapachandran and Rajeevkumar were those placed under suspension.
The police team, comprising Crime Detachment Assistant Commissioner K E Baiju and Circle Inspector control room A Pramod Kumar, has started investigation to nab the convicts.
“We have intimated our counterparts in the neighbouring states as the chance for them to leave the state is high,” K E Baiju said.
