Three Bangladeshi nationals who escaped from the detention centre inside Jayaprakash Narayan Central Jail in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, have been arrested in West Bengal, officials confirmed on June 10.
The escapees — identified as Nazmul, Reena Khan, and Nipah Akhtar Khushi — had entered India illegally without valid passports or visas. They had previously served prison terms for illegal residency in different jails across Jharkhand. Following the completion of their sentences, they were held at the Hazaribagh detention centre, awaiting deportation to Bangladesh.
The escape occurred on Saturday evening when the trio reportedly broke through a window grille and breached the facility’s security. However, the jailbreak only came to the attention of local authorities on Monday, prompting a state-wide manhunt.
Hazaribagh police, working in coordination with law enforcement agencies in neighbouring states, launched an intensive search operation. The three were eventually located and apprehended in West Bengal. They are currently being transported back to Hazaribagh under police custody.
According to officials, efforts to deport the individuals had been initiated earlier, but the lack of response from Bangladeshi authorities delayed their repatriation. As a result, they remained housed in the detention centre, which is designated for foreign nationals awaiting deportation after serving their sentences.
This is not the first instance of a security breach at the Hazaribagh facility. On March 8, 2021, two Bangladeshi nationals — Mohammad Javed alias Noor and Mohammad Zahid Hussain — escaped using a similar method by breaking window rods. Another breach occurred on September 13, 2021, when Mohammad Abdullah, a citizen of Myanmar, escaped from the same detention centre.
The recurring incidents have raised serious concerns about the adequacy of security measures at the Hazaribagh detention centre and prompted calls for urgent reforms.
These repeated escapes have highlighted glaring lapses in prison security and administrative oversight. The Jharkhand government is now facing mounting criticism over the inadequate infrastructure and poor surveillance at detention centres housing foreign nationals. With multiple breaches reported from the same facility in recent years, questions are being raised about the effectiveness of security protocols and the urgent need for systemic reforms to prevent further incidents.
