PANJIM, MARCH 1
In the backdrop of ‘indisciplined’ performance by the Escort Cell of Goa police, Prisons department has suggested that personnel assigned duty to handle prisoners be on rotation basis.
It has also asked Goa police to deploy competent police personnel, so as the past incidents of prisoners escape are not repeated.
The suggestions were set forth a week ago when four constables attached to Vasco Escort Cell were suspended for dereliction of duty in treating two undertrials.
On February 22, hours before two Escorts personnel were caught sharing ice-cream with murder undertrial Balesh Desai, notorious gangster Michael Fernandes escaped from the Escorts custody while being ferried in police van from Sada sub-jail to Goa medical College.
“We have asked Goa police to deploy competent officers on the job while treating jail inmates outside the jail jurisdiction,” Inspector General of Prisons Mihir Vardhan told Herald. Vardhan said that they have also asked the police department to regularly monitor the performance of its Escort personnel.
Highly placed sources said that senior Jail and police officials will shortly convene a high level meeting to review the frequent escape incidents.
The discussion will also be centered on the correspondents of jail authorities which have gone unanswered by Goa police in few of the recent escape incidents. On January 5, 2011 noted criminal Ralph Fernandes escaped from the GMCH in the day-light right under the nose of the guarding policemen.
Prisons officials had sought a detailed report from the Superintendent of (Training) Police on whether Ralph was traced or not and whether any action was taken against the responsible Escort team. But there has been no reply till date.
Goa police had recently contended that lack medical facilities within jail premises were an issue and that prisoners were taking undue advantage of medical referral facilities to flee from the jail.
Senior police officers also said that undertrials are not handcuffed on their way to Court or medical examination, which also gives them scope to run away. Many such issues are likely to be discussed at the meeting.
When questioned, IGP Vardhan refused to admit that there is any communication gap between the Prisons and Goa police.
Highly placed sources stated that when Michael dramatically escaped from police van, the prison authorities were informed three hours later. Police claimed that ‘they tried to search accused before informing to the authorities.’
“As long as prisoners are in the jail premise, they are our responsibility but soon as they step out, it becomes the responsibility of the police. Michael’s escape and ice-cream expose were police responsibility. Nonetheless we had registered a complaint after which action was taken against the erring policemen,” he said.
