Five undertrails escape from police custody

Lucknow, June 5 (UNI) Five undertrials escaped from a police vehicle in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh this afternoon.

Police said here the quintet escaped from 'Vajra' -- a police riot control vehicle -- when they were being taken back to the district jail after a court hearing.

''There were a total of 42 prisoners in the vehicle. Five of the managed to open the emergency exit and escaped,'' said a home department spokesperson.

While four undertrials were being prosecuted for ''ordinary offences'', one of them was arrested for a kidnapping case.

The incident took place in the Civil Lines police outpost area.

A total of 20 policemen were deployed to escort them, but only five cops were accompanying them due to lack of space in the vehicle.

While five police personnel escorting them had been arrested, the rest have been suspended. ''Police have also booked a case against them,'' the spokesperson added.

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