Jammu, February 17 Six police personnel were suspended for alleged negligence in their duties after three inmates – two Pakistani nationals and a local gangster – escaped from a juvenile facility in the RS Pura sector here, officials said on Tuesday.
Karjeet Singh alias Gugga, a resident of Dablehar in RS Pura, and Pakistani citizens Mohammad Suna-ullah and Ahsan Anwar are alleged to have attacked police personnel and fled from the juvenile home around 5:15 pm on Monday. Two police officers were injured in the incident.
Officials said that six police personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector, were placed under suspension for negligence in their duties in connection with the incident.
The suspensions are part of a departmental inquiry to determine how the escape occurred, why security was compromised, and whether there were any lapses in duty by the deployed personnel, they added.
Special teams formed following the escape have conducted raids at dozens of locations as part of an intensified search for the absconding individuals, officials said.
They said that police have registered an FIR under sections 109 (attempt to murder), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from performing their duty), 262 (resisting, obstructing, or escaping from lawful custody), 307 (theft with intent to cause death, hurt, or restrain), and 111 (organized crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as well as sections 3 and 25 under the Arms Act (unauthorized possession, carriage, or use of firearms).
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat and Inspector General, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, along with other officers, rushed to the spot after the incident, and a departmental inquiry is underway to probe various angles, including conspiracy and the procurement of a country-made pistol by the inmates.
A purported video of the gangster, reportedly associated with the 'Khauff' gang, firing inside the juvenile home, went viral on social media, drawing public concern.
Former DGP S P Vaid questioned the police over the incident. He pointed out that all three inmates were no longer juveniles.
"One of the inmates procured a locally-made 'katta' (crude pistol), and all three escaped, possibly trying to cross the border. I am sure the police teams will catch them before they do," Vaid said in a post on X.
Singh was arrested along with nearly a dozen other accused in connection with the murder of rival gang leader Sumit Jandiyal alias 'Gataru' in the Jewel chowk area in January last year and was subsequently lodged in the juvenile home.