The escape of Chandraveer Singh from Raipur Central Jail on Thursday has sent shockwaves through Chhattisgarh’s prison administration, exposing critical security lapses. Singh, convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2021, fled while assigned to welding work near an under-construction women’s jail block within the prison premises.

The incident occurred between 2:00 and 2:30 p.m. when Singh, one of five inmates tasked with the job, exploited lax supervision to evade jail staff. Singh was sentenced in July 2024 by Special NDPS Judge Pankaj Kumar Sinha to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for drug trafficking, with a Rs 3 lakh fine and an additional six years if unpaid. His escape has raised serious questions about the jail’s oversight, especially given its claims of robust security.

Raipur Central Jail, with a capacity of 1,586, is severely overcrowded, housing over 3,000 inmates, 85% of whom are undertrials. This issue extends across Chhattisgarh’s 33 jails, which hold over 20,000 prisoners against a capacity of 14,883. Overcrowding, coupled with inadequate staffing, has made security management a growing challenge. Nearly 40% of Raipur’s inmates face charges for serious crimes like murder, rape, and kidnapping, adding to the sensitivity of the breach.

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The jail houses high-profile inmates, including Maoist leaders, members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, making the escape particularly alarming. Prisoners are often assigned tasks like welding, cooking, or cottage industries such as soap-making and poultry farming based on conduct. However, activities extending outside the main facility, as in Singh’s case, have exposed vulnerabilities.

Authorities have launched a manhunt for Singh, with local police and jail officials tightening security measures. The incident has prompted calls for an inquiry into the jail’s administration, with critics pointing to systemic issues like understaffing and outdated infrastructure. Social media posts on X reflected public concern, with users highlighting the chaos caused by the escape.

This jailbreak underscores the urgent need for prison reforms in Chhattisgarh to address overcrowding and enhance security protocols, ensuring such lapses are not repeated.

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