LARKANA, May 7: Five under-trial prisoners nominated in murder and kidnapping for ransom cases escaped from the judicial lock-up of Ratodero on Sunday.

The prisoners were identified as Wahab Ghanghro, Dilmurad Lolaee, Ghafoor Lolaee, Qadir Bakhsh Luhar and Sobdar Jalbani.

Police sources said when duty guard Ashique Rahoojo opened the gate of the lock-up for giving meal to prisoners, he was overpowered by them.

Police with the help of official foot-trackers began tracing footprints of the prisoners.

Some relatives of the prisoners were taken into custody and are being pressurised by police to help assist in arresting the fugitives.

Police sources said that one of the prisoners, Sobdar Jalbani, was accused of killing three women in Jalbani village near Ratodero.

They said that other prisoners were involved in cases of kidnapping for ransom and other heinous crimes.

Police arrested four policemen including an assistant sub-inspector on charges of negligence after five under trial prisoners managed to escape from the lock-up.

They are: ASI Deedar Sariyo, Ashique Rahoojo, Ashique Agham and Waseem Soomro.