10 Armed Men Break Into Punjab's Nabha Jail, Pro-Khalistan Leader, 4 Others Escape

A group of men wearing police uniforms and armed with guns stormed into the Nabha Cenral Jail in Punjab early morning today. Firing indiscriminately on guards, they escaped with the chief of Khalistan Liberation Force and four other criminals.

Two policemen have been injured in the attack.

Harminder Singh Mintoo, 49, accused in over 10 terror-related cases, including the attack on Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, was arrested from Delhi airport in November 2014 in a major breakthrough for Punjab Police's crackdown on pro-Khalistan forces. He escaped along with four high-profile



gangsters Vicky Gondar, Gurpreet Sekhon, Neeta Deol and Vikramjit.

The armed men, who reached the Nabha prison in two cars, attacked the first guard with a knife and forced their way into the prison. They reportedly fired over 100 rounds in the air and at guards, and escaped with Mintoo and others.

Police has launched a probe to track the criminals and Punjab has been put on high alert. Neighbouring Haryana, Himachal Pradesh have also been alerted.

Punjab's Director General of Police is meeting Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh to brief him on the situation.