Central Jail Pak inmate escapes from hospital

KATHMANDU, March 29: A Pakistani inmate of the Central Jail fled from a hospital here on Sunday night. The escape of Mohhamed Jamil, 43, who is serving sentence on a fake currency charge, comes as the fourth incident in a series in less than two months and exposes the inadequacy of jail security.



According to officials, Jamil, who was scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery at Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre (SGNHC) on Monday, escaped from the toilet at the general ward at 11 PM. He eluded five cops stationed at the hospital for the last six days to watch over him.



Nepal Police has blamed negligence as in the previous incidents but officials suspect that it could have been a plot rather than a jailbreak pure and simple. [break]Five cops including Sub-inspector Yagya Bahadur KC were immediately detained and remanded on a negligence charge, said SSP Madhav Kumar Nepal, spokesman of Metropolitan Police Commissioner´s Office (MPCO), which has charge of security at jails in the capital valley.



Jamil, who is from Rawalpindi in Pakistan, has been serving a two-year sentence together with a fine of Rs 2.5 million after he was arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport in possession of fake Indian currency worth Rs 1.55 million on May 21, 2010.



Jamil was rushed to Bir Hospital Wednesday after he fainted at Central Jail. He was referred to SGNHC after being diagnosed with a cardiac problem. He was treated at the CCU before being taken to the general ward Sunday afternoon on his way to surgery.



Questions loom



Though Nepal Police has pointed primarily to negligence, officials look at the incident in another way. “Why was the jailbird left alone in toilet with an open window? When it is difficult to keep him in handcuffs in the toilet, you fasten him with a string and wait outside until he comes out. It is common practice,” said an official.



There is also a question why the cops informed their bosses only 45 minutes after the incident, officials said. The cops were armed with a rifle and 50 rounds of ammunition to watch over Jamil.



Five cops were stationed at the hospital, but only one--Laxman BK--was found to have been present on duty when Jamil escaped. KC was outside the hospital and three others were sleeping outside in an alcoholic stupor.

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