<p>Armed miscreants shot dead two cops and freed three under-trials from a police van in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district, about 450 kilometres from here, on Wednesday.</p>.<p>According to the police sources here, the miscreants opened indiscriminate fire on the van carrying prisoners, who were being taken back to Moradabad after being produced before a court in Chandausi area, in Baniather locality in the district.</p>.<p>As the van came to a halt, the assailants sprayed two cops, who were inside the vehicle, with bullets killing them on the spot. They later freed three prisoners and made good their escape from there.</p>.<p>Sources said that the miscreants waylaid the prisoner van near Dhannumal crossing catching the cops unaware. The miscreants also looted the rifles of the slain cops, sources said.</p>.<p>It was not immediately clear if there were more prisoners in the van and whether they also escaped taking advantage of the attack.</p>.<p>The borders of the district had been sealed and a massive hunt had been launched to nab the under-trials, who were facing serious criminal charges, sources said. Police said that it appeared to be the handiwork of an organised gang.</p>.<p>Earlier also similar attacks had taken place on police van transporting prisoners to the jails after producing them in the courts. Barely a few days back, a dreaded criminal had been freed in a similar fashion near a toll plaza in Mathura district in the state. </p>
<p>Armed miscreants shot dead two cops and freed three under-trials from a police van in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district, about 450 kilometres from here, on Wednesday.</p>.<p>According to the police sources here, the miscreants opened indiscriminate fire on the van carrying prisoners, who were being taken back to Moradabad after being produced before a court in Chandausi area, in Baniather locality in the district.</p>.<p>As the van came to a halt, the assailants sprayed two cops, who were inside the vehicle, with bullets killing them on the spot. They later freed three prisoners and made good their escape from there.</p>.<p>Sources said that the miscreants waylaid the prisoner van near Dhannumal crossing catching the cops unaware. The miscreants also looted the rifles of the slain cops, sources said.</p>.<p>It was not immediately clear if there were more prisoners in the van and whether they also escaped taking advantage of the attack.</p>.<p>The borders of the district had been sealed and a massive hunt had been launched to nab the under-trials, who were facing serious criminal charges, sources said. Police said that it appeared to be the handiwork of an organised gang.</p>.<p>Earlier also similar attacks had taken place on police van transporting prisoners to the jails after producing them in the courts. Barely a few days back, a dreaded criminal had been freed in a similar fashion near a toll plaza in Mathura district in the state. </p>