A serial killer, accused in about 300 criminal cases, on Wednesday jumped out of a moving train and escaped while he was being brought by the police to Varanasi in connection with a court case.

Salim Qureshi, brought from Meerut in the Kashi Vishwanath Express train, fled between the Suryavan and Bhadohi railway stations while the three constables escorting him were sleeping.

Qureshi removed the handcuff and jumped out of the sleeper class coach, police said.

The escort team found Qureshi missing from the coach when the train reached Suryavan station. An FIR was registered at Janghai police station in Allahabad district after Suryavan police refused to lodge the case as it was not under their jurisdiction.

The three constables were arrested later and a departmental proceeding initiated against them for dereliction of duty.

Qureshi was arrested in Meerut on March 8 in connection with several cases of murder, loot and other crimes.