Nine prisoners escape in India

The authorities in the northern Indian state of Jharkhand say they are searching for nine prisoners who escaped from cells in the district court in Bokaro.

The chief of police in the state Inspector-General R. C Kaithal said the prisoners escaped from the cells after breaking apart a toilet and using a hole leading to an open drain outside the court building.

The prisoners had earlier appeared before the court and were awaiting transfer to the district prison.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service