Chandigarh: The security of jails in Punjab has once again come under scrutiny after disclosures from the Central Jail Information Portal revealed that the state has the highest number of prisoners who failed to return after parole across the country.
According to the data, 152 prisoners from Punjab did not return to jail after being released on parole. Overall, a total of 187 prisoners from Punjab are currently reported as absconding. These include inmates who fled while on parole as well as those who escaped by evading police custody.
The report further states that five prisoners absconded while undergoing treatment at hospitals and did not return to jail. Additionally, 12 prisoners managed to escape from police custody at different times, while one inmate escaped directly from jail premises. Police authorities are continuing efforts to trace and arrest them.
Among the absconders, four are women prisoners who allegedly failed to return after being granted parole.
As per the portal’s data, Gujarat ranks second, with 87 prisoners not returning to jail, while Maharashtra stands third, with 85 such cases reported.
The revelations have raised fresh concerns over prison administration and monitoring mechanisms in Punjab, prompting calls for stricter supervision of parole procedures and enhanced security measures.
