In a daring jail break, 5 inmates, including 3 convicted persons, escaped from south Mizoram’s Lunglei District Jail by breaking toilet bricks of Ward No.2 early Wednesday morning, Police officials said.

All the escapees are Myanmar nationals and massive manhunt has been launched to nab the escape prisoners by the Police, the officials said, adding that the escape prisoners might be dangerous.

One of the escapees, Lalchawimawia (24), presently residing at Thangte village in Lunglei district, originally from Myanmar was recently convicted for murdering a 49-year-old woman in Lunglei.

Lalchawimawia murdered T. Vanlalduati with machete after robbing her on September 6, 2021.

All the other 4 escapees – Lalbawihliana (27), Dokapthang (26), Haudeihchhin (25) and Vanneihthanga (38) were arrested for possession or trafficking of heroin from Myanmar and booked under the Narcotics.

Apart from Lalchawimawia, Lalbawihliana and Vanneihthanga had been undergoing jail terms after being convicted by courts while Dokapthanga and Haudeihchhin are under trial prisoners.

Lunglei district jail superintendent Zosanga said that the prisoners escaped between 1.30 AM and 2.15 AM on Wednesday morning.

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Zosanga said that the prisoners broke the bricks inside the toilet at Ward no. 2 and climbed over 20 feet walls with 15 feet barbed wire on the top.

Lunglei district jail has always been overcrowded with 151 inmates, including 16 women, on Tuesday while the capacity is 109 prisoners, he said.

While there are 7 duty posts along the prison walls only 3 duty posts are manned by the Mizoram Home Guards personnel leaving 4 duty posts unmanned and idle due to shortage of manpower.

Security lapse has been reported in the jail management due to shortage of manpower and vehicles, sources said.