Amaravati: The police are yet to trace the two undertrials who fled the Chodavaram Sub-Jail in Andhra Pradesh on Friday evening after assaulting a head warder.
According to an official, the incident occurred around 4 pm when Nakka Ravikumar, a former panchayat secretary jailed for allegedly misappropriating pension funds, suddenly assaulted head warder Vasa Veeraraju in the jail kitchen.
“Ravikumar was working in the kitchen and Veeraraju was on guard. He had his face turned away from the accused when he was struck on the head with a hammer. He fell to the ground. The accused then grabbed the keys and escaped,” an official said.
Bezawada Ramu, another undertrial accused of theft, took advantage of the chaos that ensued and took to his heels as well.
Jail authorities immediately raised an alarm, triggering an extensive search operation in the surrounding areas. Police have intensified security around the facility and alerted neighbouring stations. An inquiry has been ordered.
Ravikumar was arrested and lodged in the sub-jail on charges of pension fund embezzlement during his tenure as a panchayat secretary, while Ramu was undertrial in a theft case, the authorities said.