Northeast Desk, 22nd August: Mizoram has witnessed a concerning trend of prison breaks, with 56 inmates escaping from various district jails between 2022 and August 2024, according to Home Minister K. Sapdanga. Of these, 25 have been re-arrested, while 31 remain at large.
Speaking during the recently concluded Monsoon Session of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, Home Minister Sapdanga revealed that the state’s jails, including the Central Jail in Aizawl and seven other district jails, are in dire need of upgrades. He noted that the state currently holds 1,807 prisoners.
The statistics presented by the Home Minister highlighted that out of the 56 escapes, 33 prisoners broke out from jails, seven escaped from court premises, eight fled from hospitals, seven from police vehicles, and one from a prison ambulance.
In 2022, 17 prisoners escaped across four districts: 11 from Aizawl, three from Champhai, two from Lunglei, and one from Siaha. The following year saw a spike, with 29 escapes: seven from Aizawl, six from Lunglei, and three each from Serchhip and Champhai, among others. Additionally, three women escaped from the Women’s Jail in Aizawl.
As of August 2024, 10 more inmates have managed to escape from three district jails, with the majority again from Aizawl.
Re-arrest efforts have been somewhat successful, with eight escapees from Aizawl, six from Siaha, three from Lunglei, and several others from Champhai, Serchhip, and Kolasib being recaptured. However, the continued elusiveness of 31 escapees raises concerns about the state’s prison security.
The Home Minister’s report underscores the urgent need for infrastructural improvements and stricter security measures in Mizoram’s correctional facilities to prevent further incidents.
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