Life‑Sentence Prisoner Traveled to Thailand for Five Days While Falsely Recorded as Present in Open Jail

A life‑sentence prisoner in an open jail at Shri Ganganagar was discovered to have travelled to Thailand for five days while his attendance was recorded as present in the jail logs. The inmate, whose name has not been released, was reported missing from the facility during the period in question.

Investigations revealed that the jail guard responsible for recording daily attendance had colluded with the prisoner to falsify the presence records. The guard’s signature was used to mark the inmate as present each day, allowing the prisoner to evade the jail’s monitoring system.

Following the discovery, the police suspended the guard and filed a formal case against him for conspiracy and forgery. Authorities are also reviewing the open‑jail protocol to prevent similar breaches.

Open‑jail systems in India allow inmates to work or study outside the prison premises during the day, but strict attendance checks are mandatory. This incident has raised concerns about the integrity of such arrangements.