Five prisoners escaped from a court lock-up in Bihar's Jamui district today after digging a hole in the building's wall.
Among the five are notorious criminals Ramesh Hembram and Penton Mishra, accused in several cases of loot, murder and extortion. The others have been identified as Jairam Yadav, Uma Panwar and Pintu Rai, police said.
The prisoners had been brought to the court lock-up from Jamui jail this morning for production in various cases.
They were put together in a cell with a urinal, officials said. The five entered the urinal and breached the cell wall to make good their escape.
Confirming the incident, Jamui superintendent of police Jitendra Rana said "We have launched operation to arrest the prisoners who fled. The incident is being investigated."
He said seven personnel of Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) have been dismissed from service for the incident.
The lock-up in-charge assistant sub-inspector P K Shukla and three other policemen have been suspended, Rana said adding they have been taken to Jamui police station for interrogation.
Jamui District Magistrate Shashi Kant Tiwary visited the spot and said a thorough investigation into the incident will be done.
Besides, a concrete wall would be constructed around the court lock-up to prevent such incidents in future.
