Nearly 300 communist rebels and their supporters escaped in a daring jailbreak today in eastern India, police said.
Police chief Rahul Sharma told the New Delhi Television news channel that inmates overpowered prison guards and fled amid gunfire.
Mr Sharma said 299 of the 377 inmates fled from the Dantewada prison, nearly 350 miles south of Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh state.
The jailbreak occurred while dinner was being served to the prisoners.
Mr Sharma described the escapees as supporters of communist rebels. He added that three prison guards and two inmates were injured.
The police chief added that reinforcements have arrived and were searching for the escaped prisoners, although darkness has fallen in the area.