Prisoner Found Dead After Assam Jail Escape

Abdul Rashid, an undertrial prisoner who escaped from Morigaon district jail in Assam along with four others, was found dead in a pond on Monday. The inmates, all charged under the POCSO Act, had broken out of jail by dismantling the iron grille of their cell and using improvised ropes made from blankets and bedsheets to scale the prison wall. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of Rashid's death, which could be accidental or involve foul play. Meanwhile, police continue their search for the remaining escapees: Saifuddin, Jiarul Islam, Nur Islam, and Mafidul. In response to the jailbreak, the jail superintendent has been suspended, and a magisterial inquiry into the security lapses is underway. The incident occurred during Durga Puja celebrations and has raised serious concerns about prison security in the region.