ISLAMABAD, Aug 7: Five handcuffed accused escaped from the lockup of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) in the early hours of Monday, sources said. However, later one of the escapees, Mohammad Afzal, surrendered to I-9 police.

According to the sources, three police officials — night Muharrar Nisar Ahmed, head constable Liaquat Ali and constable Tariq Khan — have been arrested on charges of dereliction of duty, while police teams are conducting raids to trace the escapees.

Inspector in charge CIA police Bashir Noon said he got information at around 5am that three persons involved in vehicle thefts and two others had escaped from the CIA lockup after cutting the iron bar of a window.

He said the culprits escaped through the window, crossed a beverages depot situated adjacent to the CIA centre and disappeared.

The three police officials on night duty remained unaware of the cutting of the iron rod.

When the in charge CIA police was asked whether responsibility also fell on his shoulders, he gave no answer.

The three accused were identified as Nasrullah, Saifullah and Mohammad Afzal. Whereas the suspects being interrogated by the CIA police were identified as Imtiaz Khan and Ajmal Khan.