Eighteen inmates, including some on death row, have escaped from a prison in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir after overpowering a guard with a pistol, Pakistani officials said on July 1. Local police chief Riaz Mughal said one of the prisoners was shot and killed in the breakout from Rawalakot prison the previous day. The prison's chief and some other officers have already been dismissed from their posts. Mughal said six of the prisoners were on death row, while another three were serving life sentences. Such jail breaks are rare in Pakistan, he said. Officials say one of the inmates had a pistol that was used to overpower a guard and snatch the keys to the prison cells.
18 Inmates Escape Prison In Pakistan-Administered Kashmir
Pakistani soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in the disputed Kashmir region. (file photo)