**Bhopal:** The eight terrorists of banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), who had broken out of Bhopal Central Jail after killing a guard, were killed in an encounter on the outskirts of Bhopal around 12-13 km from the jail.
The operation was jointly carried out by the Madhya Pradesh Police and Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) acting on a tip-off by the villagers.
The successful encounter took place in Acharpura village under Gunga police limits.
Yogesh Choudhury, IG, Bhopal informed the media that basing on an input , the security personnel had located the fled terrorists and managed to kill them in an encounter. They had weapons with them.
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra S Thakur told media that the joint operation had been launched at 4 a.m after specific information of their hereabouts and the operation was monitored by the Chief Minister.
Speaking to media later on the day, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that he spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the development. National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe into the jail break incident. MP DGP will also probe into it. Whoever would be found involved in the incident, stringent action would be initiated. Meanwhile, Jail DIG of the State, Jail Superintendent and other top jail officials have been placed under suspension.
Soon after the encounter, Odisha DGP K.B. Singh congratulated his Madhya Pradesh counterpart and informed media that the red alert sounded in Rourkela will remain in force even after the successful encounter in which all the 8 fugitives were killed.
Eight SIMI terrorists managed to escape jail on late Sunday night after killing one guard and taking another hostage.
Madhya Pradesh Police was on high alert. The state border was sealed following the jail break, security was tightened and a search operation was on to nab the terrorists.
The jail break had taken place between 12 and 2 a.m. on Sunday night when the state capital was celebrating Diwali.
They had earlier broke from Khandua jail in 2013, after which they were captured and put amidst tight security in Bhopal jail.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had recently instructed for more stringent security arrangements at all state facilities.
