SHILLONG, OCT 9: The inquiry commission report into the infamous Shillong jailbreak in 2009 revealed “glaring slackness” on the part of the jail officials which resulted in the jailbreak. The report also suggested complete overhauling of the jail staffs.
The Justice SP Rajkhowa commission report which was tabled in the assembly on Wednesday said, “It is proved from evidence brought on record that there were glaring slackness on the part of the officials including the Superintendent of the district jail.”
Terming the inflow of arms and money into the jail premises as “sheer negligence”, the commission report said “It was connivance and collusion on the part of the jail officials… otherwise it would have not been possible for the Under Trial Prisoners headed by Fullmoon Dhar (to escape).”
The Inquiry Commission also pulled up the then Director General (Prison) Kulbir Kishan for shaking off responsibility by not appearing before the commission.
Fullmoon Dhar, whose connection to the coal mafias was well known, led the infamous Shillong jail break, the biggest jail in Meghalaya so far along with six other UTPs with the connivance of jail officials on duty on May 31, 2009.
Witnesses and co-escapees, who deposed before the commission, informed that Dhar had over Rs 5 lakh at one point of time which he distributed to the jail officials and some of the money was also used for acquiring arms and a vehicle which was later used for the escape.
The commission which was appointed on July 23, 2009, dismissed the contention of the Steering Committee against Murder of Democracy (SCaMOD) comprising of leading women ngos and other pressure groups alleging that Dhar was shot dead in a fake encounter.
“Firing at Dhar by the (then Jaintia Hills) SP Mukesh Singh was justified because his own life was in imminent danger,” the commission stated.
On the alleged nexus between the politicians and the criminals, the commission said, “There was no cogent evidence to give a definite finding that there was a nexus between the politicians and criminals leading to the jailbreak.”
The commission also sought an overhauling of the entire staff including the DG Prisons with strict instruction that the provisions of the jail manual be followed in letter and spirit without any lapses.- By Our Reporter
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