A chilling account has emerged regarding Masood Azhar, the chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed, detailing a harrowing experience from his time in Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu. Azhar has reportedly revealed a secret attempt to escape prison by digging a tunnel. Working in secret over weeks, Azhar and others involved in the plot managed to carve out a passage, believing freedom was imminent.
Tragically for the terrorists, Indian intelligence agencies discovered the elaborate tunnel just hours before the planned breakout. The discovery led to swift and severe consequences. Azhar recounted facing brutal treatment, including being denied food and having their access to sanitation restricted. He described the intense psychological pressure during interrogations, where he was verbally threatened and questioned about the source of the tools used for digging, while being bound and helpless.
Azhar’s initial presence in India dates back to 1994 when he infiltrated the country with a fake passport to incite jihad in Kashmir. His arrest in Anantnag in the same year resulted in a five-year jail term. The turning point came in December 1999 with the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814, which led to his release along with other militants in exchange for the 166 hostages. This event paved the way for him to establish Jaish-e-Mohammed, the terror outfit responsible for devastating attacks on Indian soil, such as the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama incident. Despite his notoriety, Azhar remains a fugitive, allegedly sheltered by Pakistan.
