Himachal Pradesh: 64-year-old life convict escapes from Nahan open jail days before release
Harish, known for his disciplined behaviour, was recently shifted from the closed jail section to the open compound
PTC Web Desk: A 64-year-old life convict escaped from the open jail of Nahan’s Model Central Jail just days before his parole and premature release were being processed.
The absconding inmate, Harish Kumar, a resident of Shahabad in Haryana, had been serving a life sentence for murder for the past 20 years. According to official sources, he fled from the open jail premises on Thursday evening.
Harish, known for his disciplined behaviour, was recently shifted from the closed jail section to the open compound. He had been assigned religious duties at the temple inside the jail and had served as its caretaker for the past six months.
The incident came to light during the evening roll call when Harish Kumar was found missing. Prison staff immediately launched a search, but he could not be found. The police were informed, and a case was registered to trace him.
Interestingly, Harish’s parole leave had already been approved, and his premature release file was under process. His sudden escape has left jail officials puzzled.
Under the open jail system, only inmates who have completed more than half of their sentence and maintained good conduct are allowed to live and work outside the main jail area. This is the first time in the history of Nahan open jail that an inmate has escaped.
Confirming the incident, Nahan Jail Superintendent Bhanu Prakash Sharma said, “Harish Kumar escaped on Thursday evening. The police have been informed, and an investigation is underway to trace him.”