78 of 213 prisoners who escaped from Malir jail recaptured: Sindh police chief

Karachi: The Sindh police chief confirmed on Tuesday that 78 inmates were recaptured while one was shot dead. Over two hundred inmates managed to escape from District Prison Malir in Karachi last night, he added. 

Police officials earlier said the prisoners broke through the jail’s outer wall, which had been weakened due to the multiple low-intensity tremors felt in the area since Sunday. Police cordoned off the whole area and no one was allowed to enter or leave without ascertaining their identity.

Sindh Inspector General of Police (IG) Ghulam Nabi Memon told media that over 200 prisoners managed to escape from Malir prison late on Monday night when they were brought out from their barracks for counting due to an earthquake, out of them 78 were recaptured while teams are being constituted to re-arrest the remaining 138.

More than 200 prisoners had escaped from Malir Jail during the earthquake tremors in Karachi, many of whom were re-arrested.

The situation in Karachi’s Malir Jail deteriorated on Monday night when tremors were felt in different areas of the city.

The Malir Jail administration stated that during the earthquake on Monday night, prisoners were instructed to sit outside the barracks to prevent damage. The earthquake caused a commotion. The prisoners scuffled with police officers, snatched weapons, and opened fire, and more than 200 prisoners escaped during this time.

DIG Jail Karachi Muhammad Hassan Sahto said that during the earthquake tremors, a large number of prisoners came out of the barracks. The prisoners also broke the prison gate and tortured the police officers.

The DIG Jail stated that the situation is under control. If we count the prisoners in the jail, we will know how many prisoners escaped.

It is also reported that the prisoners snatched weapons from the police personnel in the jail, and the police and the prisoners also opened fire.

One prisoner was killed in the incident, while 3 prisoners, 3 FC personnel, and 2 prison police personnel were injured and were shifted to Jinnah Hospital.

It was initially reported that cracks had formed in the walls of the jail barracks due to the earthquake, and some prisoners escaped by breaking the prison wall.

According to the police, more than 50 of the escaped prisoners have been recaptured. The prisoners were arrested from Gaddafi Town, Shah Latif, and Bhains Colony.

According to Superintendent Jail Arshad Shah, 216 prisoners escaped from Malir Jail, 80 escaped prisoners were arrested, more than 135 prisoners are still absconding, and the search is on.

Meanwhile, the search operation in Malir Jail has been completed, and the police, Rangers, and FC have taken control of Malir Jail.

It is reported that the capacity of Malir Jail is 2,400.

Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar said in a media talk that the Malir Jail wall has not been broken; prisoners escaped through the gate. Initial reports were that the prison wall had been broken. It would be premature to say anything until the final report comes.

Zia Lanjar claimed that the escaped prisoners were not involved in serious crimes. Due to the earthquake, the prisoners fled from the barracks. 700 to 1,000 prisoners gathered at the gate of the jail, and escaped by breaking it.

He said that one prisoner was killed and 5 were injured during the riot. 3 FC and 2 prison police personnel were also injured.

Sindh Home Minister added that there are 6,000 prisoners in the jail. There may be negligence in the incident that took place in Malir Jail. It will take some time to know the reasons for the incident.

He said that the police, Rangers, and FC have taken control of Malir Jail. Other escaped prisoners will be arrested soon.

Sindh Prison Minister Ali Hassan Zardari sought a report from the IG Prison and DIG Prison and ordered that the area be cordoned off.

Sindh Prison Minister instructed that if any prisoner has escaped, he should be caught at all costs, and the officers who were negligent in the incident will be identified.

Earthquake tremors were felt again in different areas of Karachi on Monday at 12:53am, with a magnitude of 3.4.

The earthquake in Landhi caused cracks in the walls of many houses, and citizens came out of their homes in fear.