RAWALPINDI – Fourteen under-trial prisoners escaped from a police prison van on Monday evening while being transported from the Kahuta courts to Adiala Jail, triggering a large-scale search operation along Kahuta Road and in surrounding areas.
Escape Near Chakiyan Stop
According to initial reports, the prisoners escaped near Chakiyan Stop on Kahuta Road as the vehicle was returning to Adiala Jail after court proceedings. Police said four of the escapees were recaptured shortly after the incident, while search operations continued late into the evening to trace the remaining 10 prisoners.
Security was tightened across the area, with police teams from the local jurisdiction, assisted by Rawalpindi police, establishing pickets along Kahuta Road and conducting searches in nearby localities.
Police Response and Investigation
In a statement, a spokesperson for Rawalpindi Police said City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani had taken immediate notice of reports regarding the escape of prisoners from a police van in the Sihala area. The CPO directed senior police officers to reach the scene, supervise the operation and submit a detailed report on the incident.
According to the spokesperson, special police teams were constituted to trace and arrest the remaining fugitives, while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape has been launched under the supervision of senior officers. Police confirmed that all those involved were under-trial prisoners.
Jurisdiction and Coordination
The spokesperson added that the incident occurred within the territorial jurisdiction of Sihala in Islamabad Capital Territory, and coordination was underway with the relevant police authorities to apprehend the remaining escapees. Preliminary investigations suggest that a violent altercation broke out among the prisoners inside the vehicle during transit, creating an opportunity for several inmates to flee.
Police said legal proceedings would be initiated against the escaped prisoners once they were re-arrested. Authorities also warned that strict departmental action would be taken against any police personnel found negligent following the completion of the inquiry.
Search Operations Ongoing
The search operation remained under way until the filing of this report. Police teams from Rawalpindi and Islamabad are jointly conducting the manhunt, with additional pickets and patrols in the area to prevent the fugitives from leaving the region.
