Delayed lunch makes 38 prisoners jump jail

KOHIMA, AUG 28: In a daring jailbreak, 38 prisoners escaped from the Mokokchung district jail in Nagaland after they were not served lunch on time.

The prisoners, mostly petty criminals and drug addicts, broke the main gate of the prison to escape after waiting for their lunch that was usually served at 3:30 pm, police said. As many as 77 inmates were agitating against the delay in serving the lunch. When they did not get their meal even after 6:30 pm, the hungry and angry inmates rushed to the main gate and broke it open to make their way, police said.

About 20 Nagaland Armed police NAP personnel, who were guarding the jail, fired blank shots, but could not prevent 38 prisoners from escaping. A search was immediately ordered to capture those escaped in the Mokokchung town and nearby areas, about 165 kms from here, but no arrests have been made so far, police said.

This was the second jailbreak in the same jail within three months. On may 27, three prisoners escaped, but they were arrested later,police added.