Five convicts, including four serving life term, escaped from the Buxar Central Jail late on Friday night by scaling the prison wall, raising questions over security and prompting the administration to suspend three officials.
District Magistrate Raman Kumar said on Saturday that the jailbreak took place between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m.
An iron rod, pipe and dhoti were found at the spot where the prisoners scaled the wall, he said.
Superintendent of Police Upendra Sharma said those who escaped were Prajit Singh hailing from Motihari, Girdhari Rai of Chapra, Sonu Pandey and Upendra Sah of Ara — all serving life imprisonment — and Sonu Singh of Brahampur, Buxar, sentenced to 10 years.
Chief Warden Kameshwar Paswan and wardens Upendra Das and Raj Kumar Ram were placed under suspension, Inspector General of Prisons Anand Kishore said in Patna.
A two-member team would conduct an inquiry into the jailbreak. The team comprises Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Shivendra Priyadarshi, and Director, Jail Administration, Rajeev Verma. Based on the probe report, action would be initiated against those found guilty, Mr. Kishore said. — PTI
