2 Jail Officials, Who Took Bribe Of Rs. 50 Lakh And A Shopowner Held For Connivance

Nabha: The Patiala police today arrested two jail officials and a shopowner for connivance in the Nabha jailbreak, leading to the escape of four dreaded gangsters and two terrorists. One of them, Harminder Singh Mintoo, Khalistan Liberation Force chief, was nabbed in Delhi later. 

The three allegedly took bribe of over 50 lakh, facilitated meetings and informed the gangsters on the plan to “free” them.

“Assistant Jail Superintendent Bhim Singh, Head Warder Jagmeet Singh and local shopowner Tejinder Sharma have been arrested on the charges of abetment and criminal conspiracy, facilitating the jailbreak and escape of criminals,” said Patiala SSP Gurmeet Chauhan.

He said the interrogation of one of the attackers, Palwinder Singh Pinda, who had been nabbed from Uttar Pradesh, was expected to throw more light on the role of the three. (The Patiala police have procured Pinda's transit remand). Sources claimed Bhim Singh had confessed to having accepted money on behalf of the six escapees. He was the channel through which ‘facilities’ were provided to the gangsters and the two terrorists.

Paramraj Umranangal, IG, Patiala Zone, told The Tribune that the gangsters’ men would hand over money to shopowner Sharma, who would carry the same to their associates behind bars. It may be mentioned that Mintoo was found carrying Rs 12,000 in cash when nabbed by Delhi Police. Sources said gangster Gurpreet Sekhon met Bhim Singh on the jail premises at 7 am, hours before the attack, to gauge security. “They held a closed-door meeting. We believe Bhim Singh was a link between plotter Prema Lahoria, Pinda and the six escapees,” they said.

Bhim Singh reportedly forewarned the jail inmates to get rid of “illegal possessions as there will be a raid on Sunday.” Flouting Punjab Jail Manual rules, six prisoners (who later escaped) were allowed inside the jail corridor. “This was, perhaps, one of the more serious lapses,” a police source said.