November 27-A black spot in the history of Punjab
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
November 27 has been recorded as a black spot in the history of Punjab. On this day six years ago, two militants and four gangsters escaped from the so-called maximum-security prison at Nabha . The daring act, the kind of which was never seen even during the heydays of militancy in Punjab, had rocked the nation. One of the escapee is still at large.
Those fled in the morning of November 27, 2016 includes Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) chief Harminder Singh Mintoo, another militant Kashmir Singh and gangsters Vicky Gounder, Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, Neeta Deol and Amandeep Dhotian with the help of 15 other gangsters.
But, six year after the sensational Nabha jailbreak in Punjab’s Patiala, wherein two militants and four gangsters escaped the so-called maximum-security prison, the police have failed to nab militant Kashmir Singh. Kashmir Singh was earlier arrested and booked for attempt to murder after he had shot at Punjab Shiv Sena leader Harvinder Soni with a countrymade .315-bore pistol in Gurdaspur. Police claim that Kashmir Singh had links with terrorist sleeper cells and the attack on Soni was communally motivated. He was lodged at Nabha’s High security Jail. But after his escape , there is no clue about the whereabouts of Khalistan ideologue Kashmir Singh Galwandi — the only escapee yet to be arrested.
This incident of sensational day light jail break and that to from high security jail has raised the question on the working of jail, security and Punjab police. They broke open the prison on a Sunday, when everyone was relaxing. The jail staff was taken off guard and could not fire even a single bullet to counter the attackers.
On November 27,2016 at around 8.30 am as many as 6 criminals arrive outside the maximum security prison in Nabha in two cars. A Fortuner and a Hyundai Verna. They were in police uniforms, five of the men pretend to have brought a prisoner in handcuffs to the jail. Reach outside gate of maximum security prison and guard lets them in thinking they are police personnel bringing a prisoner.
In next minutes, they all get the access from outside gate to the inner gate of the jail which is roughly 50 metres inside. Once again pretend to have got a prisoner for lodging in the jail. When guard opens gate, they overpower him and start firing indiscriminately. By then they get the access from inner gate to the pathway that connects the prisoners barracks to the gates. Two terrorists – Mintoo and Kashmir Singh along with four gangsters are waiting. Continue to fire with their shotguns and small arms. They even snatch an SLR rifle from a jail guard and begin exit from jail premises in the two vehicles along with the six prisoners set free. Continue to fire on their way out and after exit turn left from jail on Thuhi Nabha road.
They got success in a jail break in few minutes. After that they each railway crossing that is closed. They turn around and once again pass in front of the Jail firing from weapons and
then move on towards Samana. After the escape of six prisoners information was flashed across the state. Checkposts are set up. Punjab police sounded alert to Haryana police. Haryana Police too sounds an alarm and sets up checkposts to nab fleeing terrorists and criminals.
All escapees left each other at one place or other and went in unknown directions.
But, Punjab police had successfully arrested, eliminated five out of six escapees. Only Kashmir Singh is yet to be arrested. The same has been confirmed by Punjab police official.
November 27,2022
