All 8 escaped SIMI operatives killed by MP Police on outskirts of Bhopal

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL: Eight SIMI operatives who escaped from Bhopal Central Jail in the wee hours of Monday were reportedly gunned down by Bhopal police just before noon.

The escaped operatives were killed at Acharpura village on outskirts of the city, home minister Bhupendra Singh has confirmed to media.

There were reports that the joint team of Special Task Force and Crime Branch of MP Police cornered the operatives and gunned them down after they hurled stones at the police.

Later, it emerged that the operatives carried weapons including country made pistols and other guns too. They were asked to surrender but tried to escape and were gunned down.

Earlier, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said the negligence in allowing the escape amounted to sedition.

The 8 operatives had scaled the wall of the high-security Bhopal central jail to escape. Head constable Ramashankar Yadav was killed in the daring escape incident.

Those who escaped include Sheikh Mujeeb, Mohammad Khalid, Majid, Mahboob, Aqeel Khilji, Zakir Husain, Mohammad Salik and Amjad.

A high-alert has been sounded across Madhya Pradesh. Besides, a statewide high-alert has been sounded and hunt initiated to nab the absconders.

The incident occurred at around 2.30 am. This is the second such jailbreak by SIMI operatives in MP. Earlier, in a similar incident, eight SIMI operatives had escaped from Khandwa jail in 2013 but were later arrested.

Three of the operatives who escaped in the latest jailbreak had escaped from Khandwa jail too.

The jail superintendent and four other jail officials have been suspended. The borders have been sealed in the State.

Home minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to officials in Madhya Pradesh police. MP police officials have said that hunt is on and soon the operatives would be caught.

Reward of Rs five lakh each has been announced on each of the escaped operatives by the MP Police.

Meanwhile, ex-CM of MP and AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh has said that connivance angle should be investigated as hardcore organisations work together to disrupt peace in the country.

[Representative photo]