Four prisoners escape, magisterial inquiry ordered

Shillong, Mar 23: Four under-trial prisoners have escaped from a jail at Tura in West Garo Hills after assaulting the jail warden yesterday, jail officials said here today thay said the Meghalaya government has instituted a magisterial inquiry into the jail break incident.

Sources said the four inmates attacked the jail warden when he entered their cell to provide water. They then snatched away the keys from him and fled. ''The government has instituted a magisterial inquiry to find out the facts behind the daring incident,'' Tura Jail Superintendent D N Goswami told UNI here over the phone.

The four escapees were jailed for their involvement in extortion, theft and possession of illegal arms. A red alert has been sounded and a manhunt is on to nab them. ''We have already launched a massive combing operation to nab the prisoners who are still at large,'' District Superintendent of Police J F Marak said.

During the last few years, several undertrials have escaped from Tura jail either by scaling the walls or assaulting jails guards. There are also reports that some prisoners have allegedly been made to work at the homes of jail officers in their escape.

UNI