Ahmedabad, October 06: The Gujarat High Court has issued arrest warrants against 75 of the 400 prisoners who have jumped parole or furlough.
Judge B. Prasad ordered on Monday that the absconders, who were serving life terms in different jails of the state, be collared by the police inspectors of respective regions within 10 days. Prasad asked the public prosecutor to submit reports to the court.
During the last hearing, the court had pulled up the jail authorities over their negligence and failure to arrest the criminals till their cases came up for hearing and expressed concern that the anti-social elements could again indulge in revenge killing, bootlegging and extortion rackets.
Gujarat High Court advocate I.M. Khan told Khaleej Times that the 75 prisoners on the run were ‘dangerous’ criminals convicted of crimes ranging from murder, robbery to rape.
Two months ago, the state government swung into action to track down the 400 jail-birds, saying the property of the parole-jumpers would be impounded and a furlough cell comprising police officers was being set up to nab the prisoners who have escaped while on parole or furlough or while being taken to court or hospital.
Special rewards have already been announced for informers who help in tracking down the absconders.
According to official figures, 82 per cent of the 317 escaped inmates are murderers while many others are rapists and drug peddlers.
–Agencies