Mizoram records 56 prison breaks since 2022, 31 inmates still at large

Mizoram has recorded 56 prison breaks between 2022 and August 2024, with 31 escapees still at large, according to Home Minister K. Sapdanga. The alarming figure was revealed during the recently concluded Monsoon Session of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly. Home Minister Sapdanga informed the Assembly that of the 56 prisoners who escaped from various district jails, 25 have been re-arrested, while efforts to locate the remaining 31 are ongoing. The Minister also highlighted the urgent need for upgrades to the Central Jail in Aizawl and seven other district jails across the state, which currently hold 1,807 inmates.

The escapes occurred under various circumstances: 33 inmates broke out from jail, seven escaped from court premises, eight fled from hospitals, seven eluded police custody during transport, and one escaped from a prison ambulance. In 2022, 17 prisoners managed to escape, including 11 from Aizawl District Jail, three from Champhai, two from Lunglei, and one from Siaha. The number increased in 2023, with 29 prisoners escaping from various jails, including seven from Aizawl District Jail, six from Lunglei, and three each from Serchhip and Champhai. Siaha District recorded five escapes, while Kolasib and Lawngtlai had one each. Notably, three women escaped from the Women’s Jail in Aizawl.

As of August 2024, 10 prisoners have escaped from three district jails, including seven from Aizawl, two from Serchhip, and one from Kolasib. Efforts to recapture the escapees have been partially successful, with eight from Aizawl District, six from Siaha, three from Lunglei, and two each from Champhai, Serchhip, and the Women’s Jail being re-arrested. Escapees from Lawngtlai and Kolasib have also been recaptured.