In a surprising incident in Lucknow, two alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, Masood Ahmed and Mohammad Syed, escaped from the police custody in broad daylight. They were lodged in Lucknow District Jail and Police were bringing them to the court for a hearing on Tuesday when the incident happened.

The terrorists were arrested on March 26, 2002 under the charges of conspiring to attack the Ram Janbhoomi-Babri Masjid structure in Ayodhya. Police has said that both are Pakistani citizens.

After the incident, SSP Rajiv Krishna has suspended one Sub Inspector Ram Awadh Ram and two more constables and issued an order to arrest them. They were escorting the militants from jail to the court on Tuesday. SSP has put a charge of negligence on duty on the three cops.

Later, SSP Krishna said that several police teams have been formed and a massive manhunt has been launched across the state to trace the militants.

One of the militants, Masood Ahmed was awarded death sentence by a Delhi court for attacking a CRPF camp in 2001 and murdering a constable in the attack.

ASP (Special task Force) Rajesh Pandey said:

Both militants are active members of Lashkar. The police had found an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 72 live cartridges, an Internet card, explosives and timer devices and Pakistan currency with them when they were arrested.

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