Twenty inmates, some facing terrorism charges, staged a daring prison break on Sunday in Rawalakot’s Poonch district jail in Pakistan, resulting in one death and 19 escapees still at large, officials reported.
The incident, which highlighted the notorious issues plaguing Pakistani prisons such as overcrowding, poor conditions, corruption, and human rights abuses, occurred around 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
“The inmates had a revolver that they used to hold a sentry hostage,” stated Badar Munir, an official with the regional Ministry of Interior. “It is unclear whether they seized it from jail officials or if it was brought in from outside.”
The prison break involved 20 detainees who managed to overpower the guards. “One was killed in the crossfire, while 19 others remain at large,” confirmed Waheed Ali Gillani, the inspector general of Kashmir prisons.
A senior local police official, Riaz Mughal, informed AFP that law enforcement had blocked all entry and exit points of Rawalakot, initiating an extensive search operation to recapture the escapees.
Pakistan’s prisons are widely criticized for their dire conditions and slow judicial processes, leading to prolonged incarcerations. This latest escape echoes past incidents, including the 2012 mass jailbreak in Bannu, northwestern Pakistan, where 400 prisoners were freed by militant groups.
