PATIALA, PUNJAB: A 24-year old woman, Reena, was killed on Sunday in Samrala, Punjab, when police opened fire at a vehicle which jumped a security barricade. Police in the state are on high alert after six inmates of
Nabha jail
- including dreaded
Khalistan Liberation Force
chief
Harminder Mintoo
- escaped earlier today.
A police officer said the vehicle did not stop at the barricade and the driver tried to evade policemen, prompting them to open fire.
The woman received a bullet injury, and died soon after. It wasn't immediately clear whether the woman was travelling in the vehicle that jumped the barricade, the officer said.
The fugitives who escaped from Nabha jail were helped by five armed men, who attacked the prison earlier today.
Punjab Police are on high alert after the jailbreak. The Director General of prisons has been suspended, and Nabha Jail's superintendent and deputy superintendent have both been dismissed.
The Union Home Ministry has asked the Punjab government for a report following the prison break.
Inputs from PTI