Inquiry to focus on how gun was sneaked into jail

JAIPUR: The arrest of two men by SOG for sneaking a gun into the Bikaner Central Jail in July which led to the murder of three inmates in a gang war has once again raised serious questions over the security arrangements. In a clear case of connivance of jail staff, the two known criminals managed to get the gun into the jail, just hours before the gang war took place.Though a few constables have been suspended, no concrete action has been taken against those who connived with the criminals.
SOG on Saturday arrested Hanuman Jakhad and Devi Singh from Bikaner and Jaipur respectively. Hanuman Jakhad has been charged with sneaking gun into the jail. He had met someone in the Bikaner Central Jail on the same day when the gang war took place. He had sneaked the gun into the jail and supplied it to someone for killing Anand Pal Singh.
Sources said the SOG will focus its probe now on how Hanuman managed to sneak the gun into the jail. An officer said that there could be two different possibilities.
"It is under the purview of investigation if the jail staff was involved in allowing Hanuman Jakhad meet someone inside the prison on the same day against the rules or after taking the bribe. If the staff member who was in connivance with Jakhad was aware that the gun was being sneaked into the jail on pretext of visiting a prisoner, then it becomes criminal conspiracy. In the first case, action can be taken for corruption, but in the second case, the staff member becomes accused of criminal intent," said a police officer.
The officer said that they have taken Hanuman Jakahd and Devi Singh on police remand. The duo will be interrogated who else was part of the conspiracy.
Guards Subhkaran was posted at Ward No 3 and Ranveer Singh at Ward No 6. Both were suspended. Besides, one more constable Mohammed Sabeer Ahmed was suspended on suspicion of his involvement, rural development minister Gulab Chand Kataria had informed the assembly after the gang war in the Bikaner Central Jail in July.
Though the trio was suspended, no further action was taken against any of them. Allegations had been raised to the extent that some jail staff members didn't intervene on time after one of the inmates was fired at.
The clash in July involved notorious gangster Anand Pal Singh who was arrested with an AK-47, a bullet-proof jacket and other sophisticated weapons from a farm house near Jaipur in November 2012.
Police said an inmate, who was lodged in the same cell block, identified as Jai Prakash, opened fire at Singh and his accomplice Balbir Banuda.
While Banuda was shot dead, Jai Prakash and his accomplice were beaten to death by Singh's aides.Singh also sustained bullet injuries on his shoulder.
The police had booked seven prisoners identified as Manjeet Singh, Datar Singh, Sanjay Pandey, Shree Vallabh, Manoj Kumar, Vikram Singh and Bhawani Singh after the clash.
July 24: One inmate in Bikaner Central Jail shot dead, while two others stoned to death.
July 25: Seven inmates were arrested for murder and other charges.
July 26: Three constables namely Subhkaran, Ranveer Singh and Mohammed Sabeer Ahmed suspended.
September 13: Two men Hanuman Jakahd and Devi Singh arrested from Bikaner and Jaipur respectively.