MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Kashmir (AJK) Police have successfully apprehended two of the 19 prisoners who escaped from District Jail Rawalakot four days ago.
The escape occurred when 19 prisoners, including over seven death row inmates, fled the Rawalakot jail. One prisoner was killed during the escape. Despite extensive search efforts using modern equipment, drones, and offering rewards ranging from Rs30 lakh to Rs1 crore per prisoner for information leading to their capture, most of the escapees remain at large.
Following the escape, the IG Azad Kashmir assigned Additional SP Mirpur Khawar Ali Shaukat and SP Bagh Khurram Iqbal the task of re-arresting the prisoners. Both SPs, along with a substantial police force, initiated large-scale raids at various locations.
On the night between Wednesday and Thursday, the police team led by SP Khawar Ali and SP Khurram Iqbal arrested Usman, a significant absconding death row prisoner, in the nearby forest of Rawalakot. In a subsequent operation, escaped prisoner Faizan Aziz was also apprehended.
The police have stated that operations are ongoing to capture the remaining fugitive prisoners and that they will all be apprehended soon.
This escape has prompted a security lockdown in all jails across Azad Kashmir. The government has suspended the Superintendent of Rawalakot Jail and other staff members for alleged negligence. Additionally, a judicial commission has been formed to investigate the incident.
