By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Department of Home (Jails) on Wednesday conferred an award and a citation to the wife of Late Lala Roy, a warder of Jowai District Jail, who had laid down his life while trying to prevent a breach of the jail security and foiling an escape attempt by 12 prisoners on September 13, 2008.
Home (Jails) Minister Prof RC Laloo presented the award (President’s Correctional Service Medal for Gallantry) to Late Roy’s wife at the Secretariat here on Wednesday. An ex-gratia award of Rs one lakh was also presented to the deceased cop’s wife.
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil had conferred the gallantry award to the deceased policeman on the occasion of Independence Day in 2009.
“The life and conduct of Late Lala Roy are an inspiration to the entire prison staff of Meghalaya. I hope they will strive to live up to his high ideals and courage,” Prof Laloo said.
Meanwhile, Director General of Prisons (DGP) Kulbir Krishan stated that following the failed jailbreak incident in 2008, security of the district jails in the State has been improved to prevent such incidents from recurring.
He also stated that based on compassionate ground, Lala Roy’s wife, Junita Roy was granted a job as a warder at Tura Jail in February, 2012.
Late Lala Roy joined the Prison department as a warder in October 1989. In his 19 years of dedicated service he served the department with sincerity and extreme devotion to duty. He faced the ultimate test on the morning of 13, September 2008 when he was suddenly attacked by 12 prisoners armed with sharp weapons, five of whom had been booked under the Meghalaya preventive Detention Act (MPDA).
Despite sustaining grave injuries, Roy grappled and fought with them to prevent their escape. His shouts alerted the armed branch personnel who quickly foil the attempted jailbreak.
However, Roy later succumbed to his injuries.