Jailbreak in T’puram; convict still at large

 Tuesday, February 21, 2012: Even after a day since the escape by one of the inmates of the Poojappura special sub-jail here yesterday, the authorities are still groping in the dark unable to trace his hideout.
The accused identified as KS Shaji, a native of Kannumamoodu is a convict in several sexual assault cases. The police have launched a massive hunt for Shaji. A red alert has been sounded and directives have been given to all police stations in the district and outside to scan all possible places, including bus and railway stations, where Shaji is likely to reach.
It was around 4 pm on Sunday that the trio - Shaji, Achu of Venjaramoodu and Viswaraj, a native of Ochira, found an easy exit by jumping over a high wall by making use of a cast iron pipe lying in the jail compound.
Shaji, followed by Viswaraj, got out first, while Achu was injured from the fall. Local people spotted Achu in an immobile posture and passed on the information to the police and jail authorities. After some time, Viswaraj was traced from a spot not far away from the jail. However, Shaji gave the authorities the slip.
Interestingly, the jail authorities came to know about the escape only after local people and the police informed them about the incident. The jailbreak once again raises questions about the security system in the jails of the State, especially since several such incidents have been reported recently.