Prisoners Playing ‘Vaanars’ Escape Jail In Search Of ‘Mata Sita’
Two prisoners, including a murder convict, escaped from Haridwar’s high-security Roshnabad jail during a Ram-Leela performance, sparking a security investigation.
Haridwar’s well-known Roshnabad jail faced a serious situation on 11th October 2024, when two prisoners, including a murder convict, escaped during a routine headcount around 8 PM.
The jail was celebrating Navratri and Dussehra with its annual Ram-Leela, performed by the inmates. The two prisoners, Pankaj from Roorkee, Uttarakhand, and Rajkumar from Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, were part of the play, acting as Vaanars, the allies of Lord Ram.
Pankaj, a member of the notorious Praveen Valmiki gang, is serving life imprisonment for murder since July 2023. Rajkumar has been in jail since August 2024, under trial for alleged kidnapping.
The escape happened during the scene when the Vaanars were sent to search for Mata Sita. Pankaj and Rajkumar left the stage with the other Vaanars but never returned. A headcount after the performance revealed their absence.
CCTV footage showed the two prisoners using a ladder, which was left for construction work in the jail, to scale the boundary wall and escape. The ladder’s presence inside the jail didn’t raise suspicion due to ongoing construction of a new barrack.
The incident gained attention on social media when a video of the Ram-Leela was posted on X (formerly Twitter), where the user highlighted the escape, adding that over 500 prisoners had already absconded from state jails this year.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered an investigation, and six jail officials have been suspended for negligence. Senior officials, including Inspector General of Jails Vimala Gunjyal and DIG Dadhiram Maurya, visited the jail on 12th October to inspect the area. DIG Maurya assured that strict action would be taken if any negligence or involvement is found.
The Haridwar Police are investigating how the prisoners managed to escape so easily and why the incident was reported late. Station House Officer (SHO) Manohar Bhandari said the investigation focuses on the unattended construction materials and the delayed reporting.
Haridwar District Magistrate Kamendra Singh called it a case of gross negligence, promising strict action against those responsible in the jail administration.
The police have registered a case against Pankaj and Rajkumar under Section 262 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sahinta (BNS) for escaping from lawful custody. The search for the escaped prisoners continues.
