16 Prisoners Illegally Released in Mizoram Using Forged Orders, SIT Steps In

In a major breach of prison and judicial safeguards, 16 convicted prisoners were fraudulently released from a district jail in Lunglei using forged court orders , officials said, prompting a high-level probe.

The case came to light last week after authorities at the district and sessions court failed to locate records authorising the release of certain inmates. A formal complaint was subsequently filed, revealing a systemic lapse involving fabricated documents and seals that closely resembled authentic court directives.

According to Superintendent of Police J Lalmuankima , the convicts serving sentences for various offences had been released over the past few months based on these counterfeit orders . “A manhunt was launched after the complaint on April 25. Twelve of the 16 have been apprehended, one died while on the run, and efforts are ongoing to trace the remaining three,” he said.

A four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Sub-Divisional Police Officer R Thankima has been formed to investigate the breach and possible internal involvement.

Preliminary findings point to 22-year-old inmate Jeremy Lalthangtura as the alleged mastermind. Already facing multiple charges, including online fraud , he is suspected of orchestrating the operation from within the jail and has been remanded to police custody.

Jail officials said the fraud began early this year but went undetected due to the convincing nature of the forged documents . Deputy Superintendent Lalruatsanga noted that prison staff are bound to comply with court orders , leaving little scope for verification at their level.

The incident has raised serious concerns over verification protocols and coordination gaps between courts and prisons, with authorities promising corrective measures as the investigation continues.