Baffled over why only Muslim prisoners escape and get killed: SP

The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday wondered why only Muslims were involved in jail breaks and killed in encounters.

Party leader Abu Azmi told ANI, "When the Congress government was in power in Maharashtra, a prisoner named Khwaja Younis was killed. Be it the Congress or the BJP, they don't care about Muslims."

He said there were 42 CCTVs installed at the Bhopal Central Jail and, yet, prisoners were able to climb a 20 foot wall and escape.

"When encountered, how come everyone was in the same place? How come they were killed in the same place? It is all concreted," he said.

He said the police officer killed was a "scapegoat".

"I think he was made a scapegoat, I consider him a martyr. There should be an enquiry in this." Azmi said.

Politicians are demanding a probe to verify the authenticity of the encounter in which eight prisoners from the banned SIMI organization were neutralized. The Director General of the Madhya Pradesh Police has announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the killings.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Anurag Sharma from the CID branch, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and four inspectors have been included in the team.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), taking suo motu cognizance of the issue, has issued notices to the Madhya Pradesh Government, the chief secretary and the state police for submission of a detailed report within six weeks.

The under trial prisoners escaped from the jail after killing a guard. They were charged under various crimes, including murder, sedition, jail break and bank robberies. Five jail officials have been suspended, including the DIG (Jail) and the jail superintendent. The Additional DG (Jail) has reportedly been transferred.