Five convicts, including four serving life term, escaped from the Buxar Central Jail late on Friday night by scaling the prison wall, raising questions over security of jails and prompting the administration to suspend three officials.
District Magistrate Raman Kumar said on Saturday that the jailbreak took place between 12 midnight and 3 am.
Iron rod, pipe and dhoti have been found at the spot from where the prisoners scaled the wall, he said.
Superintendent of Police Upendra Sharma said those who escaped included Prajit Singh hailing from Motihari, Girdhari Rai of Chapra, Sonu Pandey and Upendra Sah of Ara, all four serving life imprisonment and Sonu Singh of Brahampur, Buxar, convicted for 10 years.
The DM said that after probing the incident, responsibility would be fixed on the erring jail officials for the jailbreak.
Three jail officials of Buxar prison have been suspended in connection with the jailbreak.
The suspended officials include Chief Warden Kameshwar Paswan and Upendra Das and Raj Kumar Ram, both wardens, Inspector General of Prison Anand Kishore said in Patna.
Kishore said that a two-member jail department team has been sent to conduct an on the spot inquiry into the jailbreak.
The probe team comprises Deputy Inspector General of Prison Shivendra Priyadarshi and Director Jail Administration Rajeev Verma, Kishore said.
Based on reports of the probe team, action would be initiated against those who found guilty, he said.
IMAGE: A view of Buxar Central Jail in Buxar on Saturday, five prisoners escaped from the highly secure Buxar Central Jail on Friday night. Photograph: PTI Photo