After two undertrials escaped from the Bellary Central Jail on November 1 by scaling a 12-ft wall, the authorities are installing razor barbed fencing on the compound wall. This will be in addition to the electric fencing on the wall which is presently defunct.
“The work will be completed in a couple of days,” A.S. Raja, Deputy Inspector-General (Prisons), told presspersons during his visit to the jail on Saturday.
Rebanna and Ayyallappa, who were being tried for extortion and murder, among other offences, escaped from the jail by scaling the wall using bedsheets and lungis.
To a question, Mr. Raja said there would be no need for electric fencing after the installation of razor barbed fence. “The razor barbed fencing is very effective and anybody coming in contact with it will suffer a deep wound,” he said.
Mr. Raja said three more persons — jailor Gadilingappa, a head warder and a warder on duty when the jailbreak occurred — had been suspended on the charges of negligence and dereliction of duty. Two warders were suspended after the jailbreak came to light.
To a question on filling vacant posts, he said recruitment would begin once the draft rules on according special status to the Hyderabad Karnataka region under Article 371 (J) of the Constitution get approved.