Security guard shot at in Buxar central jail

PATNA: A home guard jawan deputed as the security guard at the Buxar central jail was shot at and injured on duty by bike-borne criminals early Wednesday morning. The injured Mani Singh (54), a resident of Rajpur police station area in Buxar district, has been admitted to the PMCH for treatment.
The incident took place around 5.15am when Mani along with SAP jawans was on duty on the southern gate of the jail.Two youths riding a motorbike reached there and fired at Singh and drove away on the Buxar-Chausa road. Singh could realize the gunshot injury in his thigh only when blood started oozing out from his leg.
The injured was rushed to the Sadar hospital from where he was shifted to the PMCH. Buxar jail superintendent Vijay Kumar Arora said Singh’s condition is stated to be out of danger. “Prima facie it seems the criminals fired at the jawan on duty to demoralize the security personnel and terrorize the jail staff,” he told this newspaper over phone.
Buxar SP Upendra Nath Verma said the criminals opened fire after 10 minutes of a police patrol vehicle had crossed the locality. The southern gate of the jail is close to Buxar-Chausa road and the assailants escaped taking advantage of the darkness.
The police recovered empty cartridges from the spot and sent them to the forensic laboratory for ballistic examination. “Buxar Town police station SHO has been directed to conduct surprise checks near the jail gate, particularly during night. In addition, patrolling has been intensified in the area as a precautionary measure,” the SP said.
Though the jail administration had sent a proposal to install CCTV cameras at the southern and the northern gates of the jail in June, it is pending with the department. “We have decided to send a reminder,” Arora said, adding that other measures for security have also been taken by the jail administration.
Notorious gangsters like Sonu Singh and Chandan Mishra were lodged in the jail. It was the second incident of firing there within six months. In June, armed criminals had opened fire at the southern gate of the jail, but nobody was injured. Altogether 1250 prisoners are lodged in the Buxar jail and majority of them face murder, kidnapping and extortion charges.
Authoritative sources the Buxar jail has been attacked at least half a dozen times since 2010.