SIMI members’ jailbreak: Bhopal Central Jail secure only on paper

Despite the ISO 9001:2015 certification awarded to the Bhopal Central Jail, HT has found that its security arrangements were far inferior in comparison to that at other ISO-certified prisons.

Updated on: Nov 2, 2016, 07:26:48 IST

By Shruti Tomar, Bhopal

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Despite the ISO 9001:2015 certification awarded to the Bhopal Central Jail, HT has found that its security arrangements were far inferior in comparison to that at other ISO-certified prisons.

Police personnel guarding outside Bhopal Central Jail after 8 SIMI members escaped on Monday in Bhopal. (PTI Photo)

The fact that five of the prison’s 50 cameras were not working on Sunday night is only the tip of the iceberg. The jailbreak that night — which saw eight SIMI undertrials escape — has raised serious questions regarding the standard operating procedure (SOP) adopted at the establishment.

It remains unclear why only two warders were available to keep an eye on the prisoners, and no Special Armed Force (SAF) guard was able to locate the escapees from its 25-foot watch tower. According to sources, the first warder, who was on duty from 8pm to 2am, did not go near the block where the SIMI cadre were lodged. Following the change of guard, the second warder, Ramshankar Yadav, went to the area to check if everything was alright. He was allegedly overpowered and killed. Suspended deputy inspector general of jails MR Patel blamed it on a “staff crunch” at the prison. “However, the SAF guards could have easily spotted the escaping SIMI cadres. They were probably not alert enough,” he said.

Sceptics also questioned whether the locks on the gates of prison cells, blocks and sectors were changed every day, in accordance with SOP. While deputy superintendent of jails LKS Bhadauria admitted that there was a staff crunch due to Diwali, he denied that the SOP was disregarded.

The Bhopal Central Jail received the ISO 9001:2015 certification on August 3 in recognition of measures adopted to ensure proper administrative control and functional management over the establishment. The ISO clearly states that the 2015 certification is less prescriptive than its predecessor, focusing more on performance.

Read: Bhopal jailbreak exposes security gaps in MP’s best-secured prison

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.