The Hindu : Police plan to arrest erring Tihar officials

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Police plan to arrest erring Tihar officials

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 2. Even as at least six Tihar Central Jail officials are being questioned on suspicion of their involvement in the escape of Sher Singh Rana, the main accused in the Phoolan Devi murder case, the police have drawn up plans to arrest those found responsible by including Section 223 of the Indian Penal Code in the First Information Report.

The inclusion of the section, which pertains to alleged negligence on the part of officials directly responsible for authorising custody of the undertrial, provides basis to the Special Cell to arrest those officials whose negligence in the escape of Rana gets proved.

On other hand, investigations so far have brought forth several instances of negligence on the part of jail officials that led to Rana's easy get-away from the high-security prison. Now the Special Cell is questioning the officials to just to fix the direct responsibility of the negligence. Also, they have not yet ruled out the possibility of their complicity in facilitating Rana's escape.

Without revealing any details of the case, the Joint Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, Karnal Singh, today said the questioning of jail officials was on and police would take appropriate action against those having any role in Rana's escape. Meanwhile, during interrogation, Rana's brother, Vikram - who is said to have met Rana in Sakoti village following his escape - is learnt to have told the police that in their last meeting Rana had stated that he would remain underground for about a month before contacting him again for chalking out further action.

The Special Cell is finding it difficult to trace Rana, as he had not disclosed his entire plan to any of his accomplices. "He never revealed his plans to them beyond what he wanted them to do," said a senior police officer.

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