KHAIRPUR, Sept 10: Ten under-trial prisoners escaped when they were being escorted to the Sukkur Central Jail after hearing cases in the Sessions Court and other courts on Saturday. The prisoners were being taken back in a van when they threw red chilli powder in the eyes of police guards and stabbed them with knives near the Thehri Bridge on the National Highway.

They also snatched two guns from the police guards.

The escaped prisoners include Amir Shah, Hadi Bux Junejo, Younis Dharejo, Nooral alias Nooro Zangejo, Khalid Khoso, Ramzan Mirani, Ghous Bux Jagirani, Mushtaq Mahar, Niaz Maitlo and Bangul Mirbahar.

The injured policemen — Nazir Bhatti, Hadi Bux Khaskheli and Qamar Narejo — were admitted to the Khairpur Civil Hospital.

The police guards were from the Khairpur police lines but they were on duty in the Sukkur police lines for three months.

Reportedly, about six armed men on three motorcycles were chasing prisoners’ van.

They shifted the prisoners about two kilometres off the National Highway and left the van near Waris Ghambir village.

Two motorcycles have been recovered from the place of incident.

Our Sukkur correspondent adds: Four people on two motorcycles intercepted the prisoners’ van and threw spices in the eyes of driver, Ghous Bux Siyal, due to which the vehicle went out of driver’s control and stopped.

In the meantime, the armed men boarded the van and overpowered policemen.

They drove the van towards the katcha area of Pir Mangnejo near Pir-Jo-Goth where they tortured the policemen and left them in the van.

In-charge DPO Abdul Ahad Sangri along with heavy contingent of police chased the prisoners and when reached near Waris Ghambir village, they found the police van and policemen in injured condition.

Sources told Dawn that the prisoners were involved in several cases of murder, banditry and kidnapping.

However, Prison DIG Major (retired) Ghulam Hussain Khoso said the prisoners were not hardened criminals and according to the jail manual, they were entitled for appearing in the court for their trial.

He said had they been hardened criminals, they would not have been allowed to appear in the court but tried in the jail.

EX-NAZIM: Former District Nazim Nafisa Shah has written a letter to the chief election commissioner, demanding cancellation of recent postings and transfers of SHOs.