3 Bangladeshi inmates flee Alipore jail

Kolkata: Three prisoners, all Bangladeshi nationals, escaped from the Alipore Central Jail early on Sunday after allegedly drugging their fellows and prison gaurds.

They are Mohammed Farukh Hawladar (24), Imon Chowdhury (25) and Firdous Sheikh (29). Three prison guards have been suspended for dereliction on duty in wake of the escape.

All of them were arrested by the Sonarpur police in different cases. Farukh was arrested in 2013 in connection with a dacoity case. Since then he had been in the jail. Next year, Imon and Firdous joined him. Imon was booked in a case of abduction and snatching while Firdous on dacoity charges.

The gang of three were kept in a group of 80 prisoners at the first floor of ward no 7. which is the oldest having the largest space also in the jail. The trio were found absconding while the head-count was underway at the prison in the morning. Later a rope made of a new shawl was found hanging on the boundary wall near Adi Ganga suggesting that it was used for scaling by the accused.

According to preliminary investigations, every prisoner, according to the jail norms, can take `500 from family for spending in a month but the amount has to be kept as deposit with the jail superintendent who later hands it over to the prisoners as per their need.

On Saturday Farukh, Imon and Firdous bought Moas from the jail canteen to plan escape. They mixed sedatives in the pieces of Moa which they served to their fellows and some prison guards at night. After having them other prisoners and the prison guards fell asleep.

The trio sneaked out of ward window of the ward. The trio had already cut open the window grill with Haxo blade to create space.