RAWALPINDI, Aug 11: In a major security lapse, four handcuffed undertrial prisoners, who were being brought from Adiala Jail to the court of a civil judge in Kotli Sattian on Thursday, escaped from the prisoners’ van by cutting its floor.

Following the incident, six police officials guarding the van were arrested.

Mubashir Ahmed, an undertrial prisoner involved in a car theft case was re-captured by the police after efforts of more than three hours. However search for the remaining three absconding prisoners is underway.

The police prison van carrying 14 undertrial prisoners from Adiala Jail reached Kotli Sattian and was parked outside the court premises when four of the prisoners managed to escape by cutting its wooden floor.

An assistant sub-inspector and four constables of Adiala Jail were guarding the prisoners’ van.

According to the police, seven prisoners were taken to the court of the civil judge for the proceeding of their cases while the seven remaining were waiting for their turn in the prisoners’ van.

Khalid Satti, station house officer who is leading the raids for arresting the fleeing prisoners, said Assistant Sub-Inspector Amjad Iqbal and three police constables went to the court with seven prisoners for the proceeding of their cases, leaving the remaining prisoners in the van.

When asked about cutting the van’s floor, the SHO said they would probe this aspect.

He said the van driver and a constable were sitting in the van when the four prisoners, three of them involved in robbery and car theft cases, cut the floor of the van and escaped.

He said: “One of the fleeing prisoners Mubashir Ahmed has been arrested from the green area after efforts of more than three hours. However, police have been searching the area to arrest Sadaqat, Ikhlaq and Shahzad.”

Following the incident, the ASI, four constables and the van driver were arrested by the police and a case was registered against them.

He said though the case had been registered against the six police guards, the involvement of those who had been guarding them in the van at the time of fleeing drama could not be ruled out.

The arrested cops would be produced in the court of law on Friday for remand.