The government of Balochistan has ordered a search operation for the arrest of 13 under-trial prisoners who escaped a district jail in the Chaman area on June 29, near the Afghanistan border.
Pakistan’s Home and Tribal Affairs Minister Ziaullah Langove has ordered a probe into the incident as a jailer and other officials were suspended from duty for negligence.
According to officials, at least 17 prisoners were kept in the district jail for cases related to heinous crimes, adding the suspects escaped after attacking the security guards when they were brought out of their cells for morning prayers.
“After snatching a weapon from the security guard, the prisoners attacked and injured police personnel,” Naeem Achakzai, Chaman’s senior superintendent of police reported to Dawn newspaper.
Following the incident, police rushed to the site and started chasing the prisoners, during which an exchange of fire took place, resulting in the death of one prisoner. Additionally, two other prisoners were injured the health conditions of whom were reported serious.
According to a security official, the prisoners might have planned a jailbreak in light of lax security in the jail. It is believed that the prisoners have crossed into Afghanistan after escaping from the jail.
The district security personnel have been suspended due to negligence, while an investigation is underway into the incident.
