Haridwar's riveting escapist Monkeylila

You can't make this up-not even if you're AI Valmiki of 'epic proportions' fame. Friday evening, when you were engaged in your own personalised version of Ramlila, Haridwar District Jail had its inmates, guards and officials engrossed in its own Ramlila production. Under the cover of such theatrics, another kind simultaneously unfolded: that of two inmates-one serving a life sentence for murder and the other awaiting trial-escaping. But here's the genius of the escapist arts of performance. Both 'bhaago-daris' were in costume, as they were playing the role of monkeys as part of Ram's 'vanar sena'. Under the cover of their make-up and costume, not to mention of a celebratory night, the two seemingly simian inmates made good their escape. A third monkey also attempted to escape, but having inferior swinging capabilities, failed to climb the prison wall.

An investigation into the lapse in security and judgment is reportedly on. Meanwhile, six jail staffers have been-no, not sent to 14 years of vanvaas but-suspended for dereliction of duty. Quite like the action taken against the guards in the Lankan prison holding Hanuman in captivity from where he broke out with his lit tail acting as a veritable flame-thrower. And is wont with authorities who've cocked up-there apparently won't be Ramlilas in Haridwar District Jail anymore.