Home Ministry expresses concern over jailbreak in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi, Dec 16 (UNI) Expressing concern over the Dantewada jailbreak in which at least 300 inmates, including Naxalites, escaped today, the Union Home Ministry advised the Chhattisgarh government to improve surveillance and vigilance in prisons across the state.

Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta spoke to the state Director General of police by phone to get details of the incident.

The Home Ministry regularly advises state governments regarding internal security matters in jails.

Earlier in the day, the inmates, lodged in the district jail, before escaping from the jail attacked the guards and looted weapons from the armoury.

About 380 prisoners, including about 150 Naxalites, were lodged in the district jail, located in one of the worst Naxalite-infested districts in the state.

Security forces have been pressed into service to track down those escaped.

UNI