RAWALPINDI: As many as 14 under-trial prisoners escaped from a prisoner van on Monday while being transported from Kahuta to Adiala jail after overpowering security guards, prompting police to launch a search operation, a statement said.

“Following reports of prisoners escaping from a prison van in the Sihala area of Rawalpindi, CPO Hamdani took notice of the incident and directed senior officers to immediately reach the scene, submit a report, and launch an operation,” said a statement by a Rawalpindi Police spokesperson.

However, the police spokesperson added that four of the escaped prisoners had been re-arrested during an operation, while police teams were continuing search operations to apprehend the remaining escapees.

“The escaped individuals are accused in cases currently under trial,” the spokesperson said.

The statement added that the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Sihala police station in Islamabad district, and coordination with the relevant police authorities was ongoing.

According to the initial investigation, a violent altercation broke out among the prisoners inside the van, following which the incident took place.

“The escaped individuals will be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law.”

“An inquiry into the incident has also been initiated under the supervision of senior officers, and strict departmental action will be taken against those found responsible,” the spokesperson added.

Earlier this month, two police officials and two other persons were booked by the police after an under-trial prisoner escaped from Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) in Rawalpindi.

Last year, over two hundred inmates managed to escape from District Prison Malir in Karachi.

In the wake of the jailbreak, dubbed as “one of the largest-ever in Pak­istan” by provincial Law Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah removed the provincial prisons chief and suspended the deputy inspector general of prisons, as well as the superintendent of the penitentiary.