Murder convict flees Amritsar jail

Amritsar, January 1

A murder convict fled the high-security Amritsar Central Jail complex after pushing a guard on duty today.

Baldev Singh of Mullechak village was clearing the vegetation in the outer cordon area of the complex when the incident happened.

According to sources in the department, Baldev scaled the six-foot wall in the outer cordon before fleeing the jail premises. While a search was carried out in the nearby areas, he could not be traced.

Baldev was arrested and lodged in the jail in 2010. He used to regularly go out on parole.

A jail official said Baldev, along with several others, was tasked with clearing the wild growth in the outer cordon area today. During the cleaning, Baldev pushed a jail guard and scaled the outer wall. “We are submitting a complaint to the police,” said the official.

Jail Superintendent Arshdeep Singh could not be contacted for comment.

In February last year, three undertrials, including a rape accused and two brothers accused of theft and dacoity, had escaped by scaling the boundary wall after making a hole in their barrack wall by removing bricks. They were later nabbed. — TNS