From correspondents in Meghalaya, India, 05:30 PM IST

The Meghalaya government Monday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the jail break by seven undertrials - all hardcore criminals, officials said.

The seven prisoners led by Fullmoon Dhar, including serial killers and rapists, escaped from the Shillong district jail Sunday after overpowering prison guards.

'The jail inmates were involved in murders, rapes, highway robberies, burglaries, car-thefts and several criminal cases were registered against all of them in various police stations in the Meghalaya capital,' said Kulbir Krishan, inspector general of police (prisons).

Police suspect that the weapons used by Dhar during the escape might have been smuggled into the jail by his friends in connivance with some of the jail staff.

Talking to newsmen, the IGP admitted that the jail staff and guards might have been involved in the incident.

'Besides the magisterial probe, a departmental inquiry is also now on to unearth the truth behind the jail break,' he said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)