Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir – Indian security forces are on high alert following a daring jailbreak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK) on Sunday night, where 19 prisoners, including suspected terrorist Ghazi Shehzad, escaped from a low-security facility in Rawalakot.
Shehzad, allegedly affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Da'wah, was previously active in Jammu and Kashmir before his arrest for alleged involvement in militancy. Reports suggest he may have been part of a prisoner exchange program.
The jailbreak involved the prisoners taking police personnel hostage, and a shootout during the escape resulted in the death of one inmate. A widespread manhunt is underway in PoJK to apprehend the escapees, most of whom are believed to be convicted criminals or individuals awaiting trial on criminal charges.
The Indian Army and Border Security Force (BSF), tasked with protecting the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) with Pakistan, have intensified their vigilance in response to this security breach. The LoC, spanning 776 kilometers, falls under the Army's purview, while the BSF is responsible for safeguarding the 198-kilometer stretch of the international border in the Jammu region.
Prior to his arrest, Shehzad allegedly established a militant training camp in PoJK and later formed his own outfit, Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Jammu and Kashmir. Following his arrest, the PoJK's Counter-Terrorism Department and other security agencies had reportedly issued a "red alert," urging the transfer of "dangerous" prisoners, including those accused of terrorism, to a high-security prison. However, this warning was allegedly ignored by the PoJK government.
In response to the jailbreak, the PoJK government has formed a committee to investigate the incident. Additionally, the PoJK's Special Interior Secretary has been replaced.
The jailbreak has raised concerns about potential cross-border infiltration and security threats in Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces are actively monitoring the situation to prevent any such attempts.
