INDIAN ROBIN HOOD

Southland Times, Issue 18965, 12 June 1923, Page 7

INDIAN ROBIN HOOD

THREE ESCAPES FROM GAOL. THROUGH THE CELL WALL. BOMBAY, April 22. Having escaped from prison for the third time, Jam bugling am Nadan, the “Indian Robin Hood,” is at present conducting an intensive campaign of dacoity and forcible extortion in a division of the Tinnevenlly district—the southernmost in South India. His surname indicates Jambulingam’s caste, which in South India makes a kind of whisky from palmyra trees. Ever since the first warrant for his arrest the entire police force of the division has been on Jambulingam's track, and though he has been in prison three times within ,a year, has each time disappeared after a few days. His last and third escape from prison was the most daring and least expected of all. Strangely enough it synchronised with a visit to the division of the InspectorGeneral of Police of the province. Jambulingam and Kasi Nadan, his lieutenant, were lodged in Palamcottah gaol. One night Jambulingam managed to dislodge a stone from one of the thick walls of his cell, squeezed himself through it and joined his comrade. The two were many miles away before their absence was discovered. The second escape was no less daring. On the ; way to the Sessions Court, escorted by two fully armed police constables, Jambulingam was allowed to alight from the carriage for a moment by the roadside. Pretending to be sitting on the ground, Jambulingam succeeded in shattering to pieces the fetters on his wrists by one smash against the nearest boulder. With his hands free, Jambulingam little cared whether the escorts were two or many, well or ill-armed.