Security at jail to be strengthened

KANNUR: Admitting that the escape of two convicted hardcore criminals from the Central Jail here is a serious security lapse, Additional Director General of Police (Prison) Alexander Jacob has said that steps have been taken to strengthen security arrangements in the jail as also to reduce the number of inmates there.

��It is normally impossible for prisoners kept in the high security Block 10 of the jail to escape as it is a closed prison, Mr. Jacob told presspersons after completing his inquiry in the prison into the jailbreak by convicts Jayanandan, 39, and Riyaz, 26, in the early hours of Monday.

He visited the jail, examined the arrangements there and issued orders required for strengthening the jail security. Five jail personnel, including a Deputy Jailer, had been placed under suspension following the escape.

He said a special team of police officers had been constituted to investigate the jailbreak. Alert notices had also been issued in four southern States, he said.