Hundreds of armed members of the Communist Party of India- Maoists stormed Jehanabad, 45 kilometres from Patna, and released at least more than half the inmates in the district prison.
In pamphlets left behind, the Maoists said 'Operation Jailbreak' was planned to coincide with the great November 13 Russian Revolution and its aim was to 'rescue our comrades and to award death penalty to select Ranvir Sena activists'.
When the mayhem was over, four people were dead and scores injured.
With the situation in Jehanabad still tense, Bihar has sent an SOS to the Centre for back-up forces.
Image: Women mourn after a relative was killed in Jehanabad jail.
Photograph: AFP/AFP/Getty Images