What Really Happened to Terrorist Masood Azhar in Jammu Jail? Purported Audio Details Failed Jailbreak

A purported audio clip allegedly featuring Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar has surfaced, triggering fresh scrutiny from Indian security agencies. The undated audio, which authorities

are currently working to verify, reportedly captures the designated terrorist recounting a failed escape attempt from Kot Bhalwal Prison in Jammu, where he was once lodged. In the clip, Azhar is heard addressing what appears to be a gathering of JeM operatives or supporters.According to the recording, Azhar claims he had procured tools to dig a tunnel as part of a carefully planned escape. However, he says the plan unravelled when prison officials discovered the attempt just a day before it was to be executed.Also Read| A 75-Year Terror Timeline: Hijackings, 26/11, and Proxy Wars Pakistan Waged On India, And FailedRecounting the incident in the audio, Azhar reportedly becomes emotional, describing what he claims followed as severe torture and interrogation. He alleges that he was chained, repeatedly beaten and subjected to intense questioning by jail authorities.“I was beaten black and blue,” Azhar is heard saying, adding that the fear and trauma from those days continue to haunt him. He describes the experience as physically and mentally devastating, claiming the treatment left a lasting psychological impact.Security agencies said that the authenticity of the audio is yet to be independently verified and investigations are underway to determine when the recording was made and where it originated.Also Read |Creating Trouble In J&K: What LeT, JeM And ISI Discussed In PoK MeetingMasood Azhar’s incarceration in Jammu dates back to the 1990s, before his release in 1999 during the Kandahar hijacking crisis. He was freed along with terrorists Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh as part of negotiations to secure the release of passengers of a hijacked Air India flight.Following his release, Azhar went on to found Jaish-e-Mohammed, which has since been banned and designated a terrorist organisation, responsible for multiple terror attacks in India.Authorities remain cautious about drawing conclusions until the clip is authenticated, but officials say the audio, if verified, could offer rare insight into Azhar’s time in Indian custody and his continued efforts to shape narratives within extremist circles.