Bhopal SIMI encounter: Raising question on jail security 'unfortunate', says BJP

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh on Monday appreciated the Madhya Pradesh police for neutralizing them and said that it 'unfortunate' that condemned people are raising question on the jail's security.

"This is very unfortunate that people are raising question on the security of the country. People should appreciate them rather than raising questions," Singh told ANI later.

He further added that Madhya Pradesh government has already suspended the jail superintended for his carelessness, but one should not doubt on the security system.

"This was a very dreadful gang and the way they have been neutralized, I congratulate Madhya Pradesh police and intelligence Agency for it," he said.

Eight SIMI terrorists fled from the Bhopal Central Jail last night after killing security guard Ramashankar Yadav.

Earlier today, the encounter took place under Gunga Police Station area, about 10 kilometres from the central jail.

According to reports, the encounter followed information given by local villagers, who first sighted them.

According to eyewitnesses, the terrorists' hurled stones on the villagers and police before being gunned down in the encounter.

IG Bhopal (Range) Yogesh Chaudhry said that these terrorist had weapons with them and they were killed in cross-firing.

Five officers of the Central Bhopal Jail including the Jail Superintendent were suspended after the incident.

Meanwhile, the Centre has sought a report from the Madhya Pradesh Government over the jail break incident.

Defending its action to open fire, the Madhya Pradesh Police asserted that the escapees were neutralised in 'retaliatory' fire, adding that the suspects have been continuously perpetrating serious offences and also killed police constables in 2008 and 2011.

"We garnered all possible resources and launched search and patrol parties after we got intelligence that around 7-8 people were seen by locals. It was difficult to locate them as the unequal terrain was a disadvantage, but soon our team was fired upon when we challenged the suspects," he said.