Monday, November 14 2005 20:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The over-crowded Jehanabad sub-jail, which witnessed one of the most daring naxalite attack last night (Nov 13, 2005) in which 13 persons were killed and at least 341 inmates escaped, was without a head for the last eight months as its superintendent was on prolonged medical leave.

Superintendent of Jehanabad sub-jail Satish Nandan Sahay was on medical leave for the past eight months and an executive magistrate had been looking after the jail affairs, director jails B C P Singh told sources.

Sahay had undergone open-heart surgery recently and was on leave, Singh said.

The jail had one assistant jailor who was put under suspension after the incident.

The jail director said against a capacity to house 140 prisoners, about 685 inmates were lodged in the prison at the time of yesterday's incident.

About security scenario, he said the sub-jail had a strength of 1/6 (one carbine carrying assistant sub-inspector and five constables carrying rifles).