The security apparatus at Ludhiana's high-profile Central Jail on Tajpur Road is facing severe criticism once again. A disturbing sequence of events involving inmate escapes, attempts to smuggle narcotics, and a tragic death has exposed glaring vulnerabilities, raising urgent questions about the management and oversight of Punjab's correctional facilities.
A Pattern of Security Failures and Escapes
The most recent and brazen incident involved inmate Rahul Kumar. On the night of October 14, Kumar managed to flee the supposedly high-security prison by climbing onto the main complex roof and scaling a boundary wall that was topped with an electric fence. In a shocking display of negligence, jail staff spent the next four days searching for him inside the premises, even checking gutters, unaware he was already far away. He was finally arrested six days later in his hometown in Bihar, where he confessed to escaping on the very first night.
This was not an isolated case. Just months before, on September 20, an undertrial named Balwinder Singh, who faces serious charges including rape and under the Pocso Act, made a dramatic escape from the Ludhiana court complex. He had arrived using a walker, only to abandon it and run. Another inmate, Sonu, fled custody on November 12 from Chandigarh's Government Medical College and Hospital during medical tests. He allegedly shoved a warder, Malkit Singh, while two other escorts were momentarily away.
Corruption, Tragedy, and a History of Violence
Beyond the escapes, the jail is grappling with deep-rooted issues of corruption and inmate welfare. On October 11, authorities registered a case against assistant superintendent Sukhwinder Singh and two inmates, Ferozdin and Deepak. They were accused of attempting to smuggle drugs into the facility by concealing them inside an LED television set.
Tragedy struck the very next day, on October 12. A 27-year-old HIV-positive prisoner from the Nawanshahr area, who was convicted in two drug trafficking cases, died by suicide in a barrack bathroom. Jail officials stated he used a strip of cloth to hang himself from an exhaust fan. This incident has intensified scrutiny over the mental health support and supervision provided to inmates.
The current crises have revived painful memories of a major violent uprising at the same jail on June 27, 2019. Inmates rioted following the death of a prisoner named Sunny, who was undergoing treatment in Patiala. Accusing officials of torture, prisoners set fire to 10 LPG cylinders, the record room, and the superintendent's car. Security forces opened fire to regain control, killing inmate Ajit Baba and injuring five others, while seven officers were also hurt. Amid the chaos, one inmate, Amandeep Singh, escaped before being later rearrested. Mobile phone footage of the clashes, including stone-pelting, inmates with weapons, and a cylinder blast, went viral on TikTok, cementing the jail's notorious reputation.
Systemic Overhaul Needed for Punjab's Prisons
The recurring nature of these incidents points to systemic failures within the Punjab prison system. The combination of security lapses allowing escapes, corruption enabling drug smuggling, and inadequate care leading to inmate deaths paints a picture of a facility in dire need of reform. The Ludhiana Central Jail's troubles are not new, but the recent cluster of events underscores an urgent need for a comprehensive review of security protocols, staff accountability, and inmate rehabilitation programs. Until these fundamental issues are addressed, the cycle of controversy and crisis is likely to continue, undermining public trust and the very purpose of the correctional system.
