RAWALAKOT: Twenty detainees, including some accused of terrorism, reportedly staged a prison break in Azad Kashmir on Sunday, officials informed private media. They added that one individual was “killed in the crossfire” during the escape.
“The inmates had a revolver that they used to hold a sentry hostage,” said Badar Munir, an official with the regional ministry of interior. “It is unclear whether they seized it (the weapon) from jail officials or if it was brought in from outside,” Munir said.
The Jail incident took place at the Poonch district jail in Rawalakot city, about 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir.
“In total, 20 people escaped from the prison. One was killed in the crossfire, while 19 others remain at large,” Inspector General of Kashmir Prisons Waheed Ali Gillani confirmed.
A senior local police official, Riaz Mughal, informed the media that police had blocked the entry and exit points of Rawalakot, and a search operation was currently under way to locate the escapees.
Prisons in Pakistan are notorious for overcrowding, poor conditions, corruption, and human rights violations. Furthermore, slow judicial processes contribute to prolonged stays for prisoners.
