11 undertrials escape after attacking escorting policemen

Vadodara, Mar 26 (UNI) Eleven undertrials at the Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad escaped after attacking an eight-member police escort team at Bhadarba, about 20 km from here, today.

The incident reportedly took place near the Mahi River bridge whle eleven undertrials were being taken back to the Sabarmati Jail in a police van following their hearing in a Halol court in Panchmahals district.

Talking to UNI, Vadodara District Superintendent of Police Amit Vishwakarma said out of the 11 undertrials, who made good their escape by snatching a resolver from an ASI, only one was captured.

Five members of the escorting team, including the ASI, and four constables, who were injured because of the sudden attack by the undertrials with their handcuffs, were admitted to the SSG Hospital here.

Even as the accused opened fire from the revolver they had snatched away from the ASI, no policeman sustained bullet injury, DSP Vishwakarma said.

Following the incident, all borders with the district have been sealed and a massive search operation is on with the help of neighbouring district police, he said, adding the escape seemed to be pre-planned.

The DSP said the undertrials executed their plan after four of them stopped the vehicle near the bridge to urinate.

There was heavy fighting between the escorting police team and the undertrials both in and outside the police van. But the securitymen were overpowered by the criminals after they snatched the resolver of the ASI and opened fire on them before escaping into the bushes, sources said.

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