Dera Ismail jailbreak: Top police officials blamed for security lapse, states report

Committee probing the attack on prison recommends action against commissioner, DIG.

PESHAWAR:

A committee investigating the jailbreak in Dera Ismail Khan has faulted the high command of police for the security lapse, a senior police official said.

The commissioner, deputy inspector general, district police officer, and superintendent jail should be held responsible for the security failure, the committee said in its report, recommending strict action against the officials.

The report will be forwarded to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, who would decide the fate of these officials, he said.

Talking to The Express Tribune the high-ranking police official said that the intelligence agencies had warned of a plan to attack several days in advance.

However, the aforementioned officials failed to increase security of the central jail of DI Khan. As a result, militants were able to launch a surprise attack and free 48 inmates in the prison.

“They had advance warning from the intelligence agencies but these officers made no efforts to further strengthen the security of the prison building and most importantly secure the city, they failed to stop the attack and escape of militants,” he said.

The committee had sent its report to the chief minister and action was expected in the coming days against the officials responsible in light of this report.

Another official said that the militants had done their homework and they had studied the security arrangements of the jail carefully.

“They had full information of the security and placement of police force around the jail including barriers and armoured cars,” he argued, adding that was why the militants came fully equipped to neutralise these arrangements.

The attackers were armed with explosives, RPG-7 rockets and also suicide vests.

He said that despite the fact that the attackers were highly trained and motivated as well as armed to the teeth it was possible to halt their advance on the building if they had been informed and equipped accordingly.

“The top officials paid no heed to intelligence warnings and thought that the repeat of Bannu jail break was not possible by any means,” he said, adding that the strength of the attackers was underestimated and it proved to be a disaster.

“Strict action has been recommended against these officials in the report but it is up to the chief minister to make the final decision,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2013.

Correction: In an earlier version of this story, it was erroneously mentioned that the report will be submitted to Punjab chief minister. The error has been fixed.