Four jail officials suspended in Punjab

Four prison officials, including a jail superintendent, were suspended by Punjab Jail minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa for dereliction in duty.

They were suspended in connection with the escape of two inmates from the Ludhiana Central Jail.

The minister took the action after an enquiry ordered into the incident found the officers in absolute negligence of the duties expected of them, an official spokesperson said.

Those who were suspended were Superintendent Jail Shamsher Singh Boparai, Deputy Superintendent Jail Manjit Singh Tiwana, Assistant Superintendent Jail Parwinder Singh and Head Warder Nishan Singh.

Two undertrials, both brothers, had gone missing from the Ludhiana Central Jail on May 13.

They were identified as Jasbir Singh and Harvinder Singh of Amloh in Fatehgarh Sahib district and were facing trial in separate criminal cases of theft and under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.