Four days after a daring escape of 19 prisoners from Rawalakot District Jail in Azad Kashmir, authorities are still searching for the fugitives. The escape, which occurred on June 30th, has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about security at the jail.

Despite a massive search operation involving modern equipment, drones, and a hefty reward of Rs30 lakh to Rs1 crore per prisoner for information leading to their capture, the escapees remain at large.

A judicial inquiry committee, headed by Secretary of the Government Chaudhry Raqeeb, is investigating the incident.

Among the escapees are six death row convicts, including individuals wanted by India, and others sentenced to various terms ranging from 10 to 25 years. The escape was facilitated by a group of prisoners who breached the jail’s security.

During the escape attempt, one prisoner was killed by police gunfire. Following the incident, the Deputy Superintendent of Jail and seven other officials were arrested for negligence.

Read more: 20 inmates stage Muzaffarabad jailbreak, 1 killed: officials

The escape has led to a security lockdown in all jails across Azad Kashmir. The government has suspended the Superintendent of Rawalakot Jail and other staff members for their alleged negligence. A judicial commission has been formed to investigate the incident.

The escape has highlighted serious security flaws at Rawalakot Jail. In a letter to the Registrar of the High Court on May 30th, the Inspector General of Prisons had warned about the potential for dangerous prisoners to escape from the jail, citing its dilapidated state and lack of adequate security measures.

The letter highlighted the presence of dangerous prisoners like Ghazi Shehzad, Muhammad Ayaz, and Timur Mumtaz, recommending that they should be transferred to another jail.

It also mentioned the lack of a protective wall around the jail, its proximity to a busy highway, and the vulnerability of the main gate, which opens directly onto the road.