Two undertrial rape accused escaped from Bilaspur central jail by jumping over the boundary wall in the wee hours today, police said.
Kaushal Gandharva (19) and Raju Singh Gandharva (19) were lodged in Raipur central for allegedly abducting and raping a girl in Gaurela area of the district around three weeks back, Jail Superintendent S K Mishra said.
Confirming the jail break, he said, the duo climbed up the water tanks placed on the roof of the prison and reached the upper part of boundary wall.
Meanwhile, a guard who saw them crossing the wall raised an alarm, following which constables swung into action but failed to nab them, he said.
Immediately, a search was launched in the prison premises, suspecting that the duo might be hiding somewhere.
However, failing to locate the duo, the authorities realised that they had escaped.
Police have alerted police stations in the area about the jail break and launched a search for them at bus stops and railway stations.
Soon after the incident, jail sentry Shyamlal Sutradhar and guard-in-charge Uday Lal were suspended for dereliction of duty, while jailer R S Bhosle and another officer R S Singh were served notices seeking their replies within a week in this connection, he said.
DIG Prisons K K Gupta today conducted an inspection following the incident, he said.
