- By Ajeet Kumar
- Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Ten undertrial prisoners escaped from a prison van.
- Incident occurred near Rawalpindi, en route to Adiala Jail.
- Prisoners used red chilli powder to facilitate their escape.
At least 14 undertrial prisoners escaped while being taken to Adiala Jail in Pakistan's Punjab province, a media report said on Tuesday. Police managed to capture four of the prisoners, while search operations are underway to trace the remaining 10, the Express Tribune reported.
The incident occurred on Monday when 36 undertrial prisoners were being escorted to jail after their court appearance at Kahuta tehsil court near Rawalpindi. When the prison van reached the Chakian area within the jurisdiction of the Sihala Police Station in Islamabad, the escort personnel heard shouting and fighting from inside the prisoners' compartment in the vehicle.
“Following reports of prisoners escaping from a prison van in the Sihala area of Rawalpindi, CPO Hamdani took notice of the incident and directed senior officers to immediately reach the scene, submit a report, and launch an operation,” said a statement by a Rawalpindi Police spokesperson.
According to police, Sub-Inspector Imtiaz, who was leading the team, opened the prisoners' compartment to intervene. At that moment, some of the inmates allegedly threw red chilli powder into the eyes of the police personnel before fleeing in different directions, police said.
Four of the fleeing prisoners were immediately overpowered and taken back into custody, while 10 others managed to escape, the report said.
Over 200 prisoners escape from Pak jail during evacuation after earthquake
The incidents of jail breaks and prisoners' escapes are common in Pakistan. Earlier last year, more than 200 prisoners escaped from a Pakistani jail after chaos erupted during a precautionary evacuation following an earthquake in the region. The incident happened after an earthquake struck the region.
Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah said over 600 prisoners were taken out of their barracks during the tremors. "Amid the chaos, 216 managed to flee,” the report quoted Shah as saying.