In a complete mockery of prison security, a Maoist called Sujeet owerpowered a jail guard in Dantewada jail and set 294 inmates free.
RAIPUR: In a complete mockery of prison security, a Maoist called Sujeet owerpowered a jail guard in Dantewada jail and set 294 inmates free. Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Vishwaranjan told The Time of India, "The CRPF and district police forces have been alerted and the entire area has been cordoned off. There were a total of 377 inmates in the jail and the remaining are still in prison." Nearly 15 of those who escaped are hardcore rebels, and jails in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have been given enhanced security as hundreds of Maoists are lodged in these prisons.
Maoists have carried out jailbreaks earlier as well, the most daring of which was in November 2005 when hundreds of rebels laid siege to Jehanabad jail and helped 137 inmates escape. The other instance was in Orissa, in March 2006, when 200 armed Maoists laid siege to Ramagiri Udayagiri district and kidnapped police and jail officers, while escaping with 28 automatic weapons and an LMG.