Kerala CM orders probe into Kannur jailbreak, sets up two-member panel
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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday ordered an inquiry into the daring escape of the notorious criminal Govindachamy from Kannur Central Prison, announcing a two-member panel to investigate the lapse that has drawn sharp criticism.
At a high-level meeting of senior police officials, Vijayan said the panel will be headed by retired Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair and former state police chief Jacob Punnoose. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three months.
Opposition leaders from the Congress and BJP hit out at Vijayan, accusing him of failing to manage the Home Department and alleging that jails in the state are controlled by the mafia.
The chief minister said the government is considering the construction of a state-of-the-art prison as existing facilities are overcrowded, with possible sites being identified in Kottayam or Pathanamthitta.
Other measures announced include electric fencing at four major prisons, upgrading CCTV surveillance and exploring the transfer of hardened criminals to jails in neighboring states.
The incident occurred early on Friday when Govindachamy escaped from the high-security prison around 1.15 a.m. The jailbreak went unnoticed for four hours, and police were alerted two hours later.
Reports said power was switched off during the escape, and a rope made of clothes was found hanging from the 25-foot-high compound wall. Govindachamy was eventually found hiding in a well about 4 km from the prison at 10.30 a.m.
He was later shifted to the high-security Viyyur Jail in Thrissur on Saturday morning.