Rajganj, 27th September: A Rohingya youth allegedly escaped from the Fatapukur Holding Centre in Rajganj on Sunday morning by scaling the boundary wall and was later apprehended from a nearby tea garden following an extensive search operation assisted by a sniffer dog.
The detained youth has been identified as Mohammad Salam, a Myanmar national. He was among four individuals detained in the New Jalpaiguri area on September 20 and subsequently lodged at the Fatapukur Holding Centre.
According to sources, Salam told the authorities that he needed to use the restroom and was allowed to step out. It is alleged that he took advantage of the situation to evade security surveillance, climbed over the boundary wall and fled from the premises.
Following the escape, authorities launched a search operation across areas along his suspected route. A sniffer dog was also deployed to assist the search.
After an extensive search, Salam was located in a tea garden near Panikauri More, approximately one kilometre from the holding centre. He was subsequently apprehended and taken back into custody.
The incident has raised questions over the security arrangements at the Fatapukur Holding Centre. Authorities are examining how the detainee managed to breach the security perimeter and escape, while an investigation is underway to determine whether there was any security lapse.
