Siraha, September 25:

The probe committee formed to investigate Siraha jailbreak, concluded that the 54 prisoners escaped due to the carelessness of the security personnel and the prison administration.

Constituted under the coordination of DSP at the District Police Office Sahakul Thapa, the five-member panel handed over its report to acting Siraha CDO Dilip Lamichhane yesterday.

The report recommended action against 18 security personnel who were on duty when the incident occurred. The panel spared two policemen on duty on the ground that the two had tried all they could to stop the escapees.

On August 13, 55 prisoners, out of 150, had escaped from the jail. While the police had held five escapees, a prisoner, Sonelal Yadav of Parsa’s Bishrampur, was shot dead. Forty-nine escapees are still at large.

Meanwhile, Sandesh, identifying himself as president of Madhes Tarai Mukti Morcha, claimed over phone yesterday that he was the brain behind the jailbreak.