KOHAT, Nov 21: The district police chief suspended all staff of the Saddar police station, including the SHO, after three dangerous proclaimed offenders, arrested by the SSP himself in a raid four days back, escaped from the lockup by throwing red chillies in the eyes of guards who were serving them Iftar on Monday evening.

The SSP, Ihsan Ghani, has ordered an inquiry into the incident and suspended 35 officials of the police station.

Inspector Lal Farid has taken the charge as new SHO of the Saddar police station and is also conducting inquiry into the case, the second during one month.

The police party that had no vehicle to chase the criminals tried to stop a private vehicle but that sped away after the driver sensed suspicion due to the presence of such a huge gathering of policemen on the road.

It was fired upon by the police as a result two of the inmates were seriously injured and were admitted in the Liaquat Memorial Hospital.

The leader of the group, Imtiaz, son of Jalal, and his accomplices, Arshad alias Laparo and Zahir Shah son of Mohammad Shah were wanted by the police in various heinous crimes like murders, kidnappings and dacoities. They were arrested during raids for the recovery of a school teacher abducted a fortnight ago from Kohat.

The police said that a Suzuki pickup came to the Saddar police station and two of the family members of the proclaimed offender handed over Iftar dinner to the guards for the criminals. As soon as the guard opened the lock-up to serve the dinner to the criminals they threw red chillies in their eyes and fled in the same Suzuki.