GUJRANWALA, March 2: Five accused involved in a murder case escaped from police lock-up after throwing chilies in the eyes of guards at Saddar police station here on Saturday.

Ladheywala Warraich police had arrested Mohsin Abbas, Amjad Ali, Muhammad Anwer, Saqlain Abbas and Ghulam Mustafa and shifted them to Saddar police lock-up a few days ago. On Saturday, when constables Ayub, Azam Javed and Allah Ditta opened the lock-up window to provide them meal, they threw chilies in their eyes and escaped. On receiving an information, SSP Muhammad Aslam Tarin reached the spot along with police commandos.

Later, Saddar police conducted raids on criminals’ hideouts and arrested two main accused — Mohsin Abbas and Amjad Ali. The SSP also got arrested constables who were deployed on guard duty.

It may be mentioned that outlaws had already tried to escape from a moving police van by uprooting its floor near Alam Chowk by-pass some eight months ago.

Ladheywala Warraich and Gujranwala Saddar police are conducting raids for the arrest of remaining three fugitives.

OLDAGE BENEFIT: Around 90,000 industrial workers will be registered under the Employees Oldage Benefit Institution (EOBI) to provide them with better facilities.

Speaking at a meeting on Saturday, EOBI assistant director general and zonal head Iqbal Haider Zaidi said labour laws had been amended to resolve workers’ problems at the district level.

DIGITALIZED: Alipur Chattha telephone exchange comprising 2,000 lines has been digitalized.

District Nazim Chaudhry Fiaz Ahmad Chattha inaugurated the digitalized exchange here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the government wanted to provide modern telecommunication facilities to the people living in remote areas.