October 12, 2024: In an extraordinary turn of events, two prisoners participating in a Ram-Leela performance at the Roshanabad jail managed to escape during the annual festivities. The incident occurred on Friday, raising serious concerns about prison security.

Inmates Pankaj and Rajkumar, both serving sentences for serious offenses including murder and kidnapping, were cast in the roles of 'Vaanar' (monkey) in the dramatic reenactment of the epic Ramayana. While their characters were supposed to be searching for the kidnapped Sita, the duo took advantage of the situation and did not return.

Authorities became aware of the escape around 8 PM, after reviewing CCTV footage that revealed the pair had used a ladder to scale the prison's boundary wall. This alarming breach highlights potential lapses in security protocols during the festival, which has been a tradition at Haridwar Jail for the past three years.