Assam: 5 POCSO-Accused Inmates Escape Prison Scaling 20-Ft Wall Using Lungis, Bedsheets

Five undertrial prisoners, charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, escaped from a prison in Assam by breaking metal rods and scaling a 20-foot wall using bedsheets, blankets, and 'lungis'.

The escape occurred between 1 and 2 am on Friday at Morigaon District Jail, prompting the district administration to initiate a magisterial investigation.

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The jailer, Prashanta Saikia, has been suspended, while two assistant jailers from Guwahati have been temporarily appointed to oversee the prison.

Inspector General (Prisons) Pubali Gohain will also lead a separate departmental inquiry into the matter.

The prisoners, identified as Saifuddin, Ziarul Islam, Nur Islam, Mafidul, and Abdul Rashid, managed to break the rods of their barracks and used blankets, *lungis*, and bedsheets to climb the 20-foot-high compound wall.

Morigaon Superintendent of Police Hemanta Kumar Das confirmed that a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the five fugitives. "We will interrogate some of the jail inmates tomorrow. Everything will come out in the investigation," Mr Das stated.

Morigaon District Commissioner Devashis Sarma added that the escapees hail from Tezpur in Sonitpur district, as well as Lahorighat and Moirabari in Morigaon district.