Convicted Rapist's Brief Escape from Bilaspur Prison Thwarted

Bilaspur (HP), Jun 27 (PTI) — A convicted rapist who managed to escape from an open prison in Jabli, located in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district, was successfully apprehended within just a few hours, the police reported on Friday.

At approximately 8:30 am on Thursday, Mehar Chand, after completing the task of cleaning the barrack, proceeded outside the prison to dispose of garbage. He was accompanied by the head supervisor of the jail at that time.

Seizing the opportunity, Chand made his escape. The jail administration acted swiftly, immediately notifying the local police about his escape, they said.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shiv Chaudhary stated that multiple teams were deployed to various strategic locations. All vehicles in the entire district underwent thorough searches to locate the absconding convict.

After considerable efforts, the police succeeded in capturing the prisoner late Thursday night near Nauni. The police were alerted by some villagers who noticed suspicious movements and subsequently informed law enforcement officials, leading to Chand's arrest.

In 2020, Chand was sentenced for a rape case that occurred in Sandauli village on August 28, 2015. He received a ten-year prison sentence and was serving his term at the open jail in Bilaspur.

Open jails are specialized correctional facilities aimed at rehabilitating offenders in an environment that is less restrictive compared to conventional closed prisons.

ASP Chaudhary indicated that Chand is currently being interrogated, and an extensive investigation is ongoing to ascertain whether he had any external assistance in his escape.

The incident has raised critical questions regarding the jail administration's oversight and negligence in this matter.

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