Two probes ordered into attempted jail break in Goa (Roundup)

Prison authorities in Goa ordered an enquiry into Tuesday night's attempted jailbreak by 45 inmates in Sada sub-jail, while a judicial probe has been ordered into the custodial death of history-sheeter Vinayak Korbatkar, who received grievous injuries during the incident, officials said on Wednesday.

Nine inmates and four prison guards were injured in the attempted jail break at the under-repair Sada sub-jail, located 40 km south of Panaji, late on Tuesday night.

Attempts made by the inmates to flee the prison premises, were thwarted by police personnel who had rushed to the site and laid siege to the prison premises to prevent prisoners from running away.

While the violence in the prison premises started at 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday night, police and prison authorities were able to secure the prison premises and conduct a head-count of the inmates by 1.30 a.m.

Speaking to reporters, additional Inspector General of Police Siddhivinayak Naik confirmed to reporters, that a probe had been ordered to investigate the incident.

"Yes, a probe has been ordered into the incident," he said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Lawrence D'Souza said Vinayak Korbatkar died due to severe stab injuries which he received in the melee.

Prison sources said that the jailbreak followed a melee within the sub-jail premises, which was caused after two groups of inmates clashed late on Tuesday night.

"The two groups of prisoners, one led by Korbatkar, suddenly erupted into a fight and after a few minutes they also started attacking the jail staff. We called the police for assistance and managed to prevent any inmate from slipping away," the source said on condition of anonymity.

Naik however said, that the exact cause of the incident would be established only after a probe by his department. He also said that all the inmates of the sub-jail were being transferred to the high-security Colvale central jail.

Meanwhile, a judicial probe has also been ordered into the death of Korbatkar, who incidentally has been accused of stabbing another inmate Ashpak Bengre, earlier in 2017. Korbatkar was declared dead on arrival at a local government-run hospital.

"A judicial probe has been ordered following the death of the inmate," South Goa District Magistrate Swapnil Naik said.

--IANS

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