20 prisoners escape from Rawalakot Jail; one killed in police shootout

Rawalakot: At least 20 prisoners escaped from Azad Kashmir’s Rawalakot Jail between 2.30 and 2.30 pm on Sunday. During the escape, one prisoner held the guard hostage at gunpoint, allowing the others to escape.

In the ensuing pursuit, the police opened fire, injuring a prisoner who later died on the way to hospital.

Ghazi Shehzad, a member of the banned organization, is also among the escaped prisoners. He was earlier arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department and handed over to the police.

Police have set up roadblocks and stepped up security across the district to search for the remaining 19 escaped prisoners.