An embarrassed Karnataka government Monday announced Rs.5 lakh reward for credible information on tracing the criminal who escaped from the city central jail Sunday.
"We will reward Rs.5 lakh to whoever gives credible information leading to capture of the convict (Jaishankar) who jumped the prison walls to escape," Home Minister K.J. George told reporters here after visiting the jail, located on the city's outskirts.
Admitting to serious security lapses that led to the incident for the first time in the central jail, George said the government would equip all prisons across the state with better surveillance system, including CCTV cameras, floodlights and electric fencing on their compound walls.
"Absence of CCTV cameras, searchlights and power for electric fence on the outer wall made it convenient to the accused to escape without being detected," George said.
Deputy Inspector General (prisons) Viwhwanathaiah, who is heading the inquiry committee, has been directed to ascertain how Jaishankar managed to get a duplicate key of his cell and a police uniform in which he escaped in disguise.
Meanwhile, police launched a massive manhunt to trace the convict across the state and neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu from where he hails, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra.
"We have stepped up vigil at check-posts and inter-state borders and circulated his photograph with other states to trace him," Director General of Police Lalrokhuma Pachuau told reporters later.