Lifer escapes from Nahan Open Jail hours before premature release consideration
Old photo
Nahan, Nov 8,
In a breach of prison security, a 65-year-old convict serving a life sentence for murder escaped from the open premises of the Model Central Jail, Nahan, late Thursday evening.
The fugitive, identified as Harish Kumar, a resident of Shahabad in Haryana, had spent nearly two decades behind bars and was regarded as one of the most disciplined inmates in the facility.
Ironically, official sources revealed that Harish’s file for premature release was under active consideration, and his parole had already been approved, making his sudden escape both baffling and unfortunate.
For the past six months, Harish had been assigned temple duties within the jail premises, a privilege granted to inmates with exemplary conduct. However, during the evening roll call, he was found missing, triggering alarm and a statewide manhunt.
Preliminary reports suggest that the jail superintendent was on leave when the incident occurred. Despite immediate mobilization of the police and jail authorities, Harish could not be traced till late Friday. A case has since been registered at Nahan Police Station under relevant sections.
The episode has once again put the spotlight on security lapses in open prisons, which are designed to rehabilitate well-behaved convicts nearing the end of their sentences.
A senior prison official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that the escape “reflects a procedural failure” and that an internal inquiry has been ordered to determine whether negligence or loopholes in monitoring contributed to the breach.
The open jail system, introduced to promote reform and reintegration of long-serving convicts, allows selected inmates limited freedom within the premises under trust-based supervision. However, Thursday’s escape has reignited debate over balancing trust with vigilance in such setups.
Meanwhile, police teams have been dispatched to border areas and adjoining districts in both Himachal Pradesh and Haryana to trace the absconding convict.
Authorities have urged citizens to report any sighting of the fugitive to the nearest police station.
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