Three under-trial prisoners on Thursday made a dramatic escape bid aided by a couple of associates when they were being taken to the Contai sub-divisional court, police said.
While one of the trio Karna Bera was later nabbed from a hideout from the terrace of a house in nearby Contai town area, the police have launched a search operation for the other two -- Sheikh Munna and Surajit Guria, East Midnapore SP V Solomon Nesakumar told PTI.
The incident happened at around noon, when four accused, arrested in an old case of dacoity, were taken to the court, he said.
"Their associates were present in the court premises. Soon after seeing the under-trial prisoners, they appeared in two bikes and started hurling bombs and fired a couple of rounds in the air to snatch the trio from the grasp of the policemen. They first tried to flee riding one bike but could not do so because the bike developed a snag," the SP said adding that the trio then ran away.
District Magistrate Rashmi Kamal said that there was no report of any GRO being shot at by the prisoners.
Preliminary reports had said that the General Register Officer (GRO) was shot at twice from close range when he resisted the under-trial prisoners from escaping.
The miscreants then hurled bombs to disperse the locals who tried to stop them from fleeing.
"Our search for the other two accused is very much on. We have informed the nearby police stations and increased police 'naka' at entry and exit points of the towns and the districts. We are hopeful of getting them in quick time," the SP said.
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