Guard killed, 5 injured in jail-break bid

SHILLONG: A sentry was killed and at least five persons injured when a group of prisoners in a jail led by five militants, made an unsuccessful bid to loot an armoury and flee in Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills district on Saturday.
   
Altogether 12 prisoners, including five rebels of the Garo militant outfit Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC), knifed the sentry and tried to break into the armoury room of Jowai District Jail on Saturday morning.
   
The jail breakers, however, were confronted by people outside the jail even as police personnel fired at least eight rounds to prevent the prisoners from fleeing. The clash lasted for over half-an-hour. The dead sentry was identified a Lala Ray.
   
Superintendent of Police MK Singh said all the 12 prisoners were forced to surrender on the scene.
   
At least five of them were injured in the clash and have been admitted at a local hospital.
   
Singh said the prisoners stole the knife from the jail kitchen three days back and the entire bid was a pre-planned conspiracy.
   
The prisoners would be interrogated when they are released from the hospital, Singh added.
   
Deputy Commissioner S Goyal said the administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The inquiry panel, headed by an additional district magistrate, will submit its report on September 15.