The Union Home Ministry and different intelligence agencies have asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to review the security grid of all the prisons in the state following the escape of a Pakistani militant from the Shri Maharaja Hira Singh (SMHS) hospital of Srinagar. Official sources said that many Pakistani militants and other militant commanders may be shifted outside J&K. They said that a review has started and the management of all prisons and sub-jails have been asked to ensure that there are no more such escapes.
The DG, Prisons and IGP Kashmir have been shifted, and the intelligence agencies have warned of more such “sensational acts” by militants after they successfully helped Lashkar deputy commander Naveed Jhat of Pakistan flee from custody. They also killed two cops inside the SMHS Hospital.
The government admitted security lapse and suspended the superintendent of Srinagar Central Jail. After a few hours, IGP Kashmir range Muneer Ahmad Khan was shifted and S.P. Pani, who has a lot of experience as the DIG, South Kashmir, was made the Police Chief of the Kashmir Valley. The police claimed during a press conference on Thursday that they have, in only four hours, found out about the module which was used to free Naveed from custody. The police said that they arrested four persons including two militants and over ground workers involved in the SMHS incident. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Munir Ahmad Khan told reporters in a press conference that among others, one Pakistani militant named Mohammad Naveed Jhat, resident of Multan Pakistan, was being taken from Central Jail Srinagar for medical check-up to SMHS Hospital. He said that head constable Mushtaq Ahmad and constable Baber Ahmad got seriously injured in the shootout and later succumbed to their injuries.
The police said that SIT has found that Hilal Ahmad Rather, son of Ghulam Muhammad Rather, resident of Begam Bagh Khan Mohalla Kakpora, Pulwama; Shakeel Ahmad Bhat, son of Muhammad Ramzan Bhat, resident of Lelhar Kakapora Pulwama; Tika Khan, son of Abdul Ahad Khan, resident of Singu Narbal Pulwama; Syed Tajamul, son of Syed Muhammad Syed, resident of Pahu Pulwama; and Muhammad Shafi Wani, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Wani, resident of Singu Narbal Pulwama were involved in the commission of this act. They are militants and over ground workers. He said that the accused persons have been arrested except Hilal Ahmad Rather and Naveed Jhat who are absconding.