NSA detenue Kangleipal escapes from JN security ward
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 29 2008: President of Manipur Forward Youth Front Sapamcha Kangleipal, who has been jailed under the National Security Act, escaped from the JN Hospital security ward, where he was lodged for a personal ailment, last night.

Taking swift action, the Government has suspended three policemen on duty including one SI.

Kangleipal was booked under the NSA on the ground that he had made seditious remark in connection with the formation of the contentious Special Police Officers for the people of Heirok.

He was arrested on May 6 from Manipur Press Club.

The window with the mangled bars and President of Manipur Forward Youth Front Sapamcha Kangleipal

The fact that Kangleipal had slipped out from the Security Ward of JN Hospital came to light early today morning during the routine checks conducted everyday at 5 am to verify whether all convicts undergoing treatment were in their place or not.

Two other convicts who shared the same room with Kangleipal were found in their place, said personnel at the Security Ward.

The other two are identified as Shimreiyo Tangkhul of the Naga Peoples' Council of Manipur and Md Yahiya of PREPAK.

They said that they do not know when and how Kangleipal escaped as they were asleep.

Kangleipal along with the other two were lodged at Room number 1 of the Security Ward which has three rooms. While there are three beds at two rooms, the third room has four beds.

Room number 1 where Kangleipal was lodged has three beds.

The rooms of the inmates are located adjacent to the rooms of the security personnel.

To enable the security personnel monitor the movements of the convicts, their rooms are enclosed by doors which are grilled.

The room where Kangleipal and the two other has an iron grilled window measuring about 3 x 4 ft on the eastern side.

Moreover there is another iron grill on the window from the other side.

Just next to the Security Ward is a block which was previously used as the Gynaecology ward.

This block has now been vacated for the proposed State Medical College and is under hectic renovation and construction causing much noise, said security personnel.

Security personnel opined that Kangleipal may have escaped through the window.

The iron bars of the window appear to have been sawed off through.

Two iron bars, put up perpendicularly were found bent while one or two bars were found sawed off.

Some other iron grills put on the outside of the window were also found bent.

A security personnel on duty at the ward, Md Nazari said that altogether 22 personnel from the 6 MR and the State police are on duty at the ward.

The personnel said that Kangleipal was let out of his room under guard last night at about 10.30 as he wanted to visit the toilet.

After the visit to the toilet he was taken back to his room, he added.

As usual the rooms where the convicts are kept were checked at 5 am today, said Nazari and added that the irons bars on the window in the room where Kangleipal stayed were found cut off.

Following the escape of Kangleipal from the Security Ward, top police officials including IG (LO-I) Karnajit, DC of Imphal East, SP of Imphal East and DC of Imphal East rushed there.

When reporters questioned whether it would have been possible for Kangleipal to squeeze through the bent iron bars (about 1 foot width), security personnel said that it was possible.

The IG however refused to buy the story and told the reporters, "Forget about a full grown man, even a cat will not be able to squeeze through.

An investigation will be ordered" .

A police official said that disciplinary action would be taken up against all the personnel on duty at the Security Ward of JN hospital in connection with the case.

Following the 'great escape' security has been beefed up at JN Hospital and an Assistant CO of 6 MR visited the Security Ward today evening.