A dark secret from the past of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar has emerged, revealing a period of intense vulnerability during his imprisonment in Jammu’s Kot Bhalwal jail. The notorious terrorist admitted to orchestrating a daring tunnel escape, a plot that brought him to the brink of freedom but ultimately resulted in severe repercussions and lasting psychological distress.
Azhar detailed how smuggled tools were used to painstakingly dig a tunnel under the high-security prison over several weeks. The plan was so close to fruition that escape was anticipated within days. However, alert Indian intelligence agents discovered the underground passage just hours before Azhar and his accomplices could make their break. The discovery led to immediate and brutal consequences.
According to Azhar’s account, he and others involved were subjected to harsh punishment, including severe food shortages and denial of basic amenities. The interrogations that followed were particularly grueling. Chained and at the mercy of a “very cruel” officer, Azhar faced relentless questioning about the tools used for digging. He confessed that the psychological torment and physical restraint experienced during these sessions continue to haunt him decades later. Azhar’s presence in India began in 1994 with a fake passport, leading to his arrest and subsequent release in the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, which allowed him to form the terror outfit responsible for major attacks.