Bokaro: Nine under-trials, accused of committing major crimes including massacre and abduction, escaped from judicial custody from the civil court premises in Jharkhand's Bokaro district on May 9.

Police said the under-trials, who were kept inside a court lock-up for production in connection with cases against them this morning, broke open the window and sped away in a jeep waiting outside.

Police tried to capture them but in vain. All police stations in the North Chotanagpur Division in Jharkhand were kept on a maximum alert and intensive raids were on to track down the escapists.

Of the escapees, Anil, Subhash and Manghan Chatterjee were, described as ''terror'' in Chhotanagpur.

PTI