Armed miscreants opened fire on the premises of a court at Samastipur in Bihar on Saturday, injuring two prisoners who were brought there to be produced in connection with a case.

The shooting took place in the presence of police.

At least four persons were said to have been waiting on the court premises for the two prisoners, identified as Prabhat Chaudhary and Prabhat Tiwary. They opened fire at the duo the moment they arrived, escorted by a police team. The miscreants ran out of the main gate of the court campus and escaped.

Panic prevailed among lawyers, clients, court officials and other people present on the court premises following the shooting. Senior police officers rushed to the place and began investigations.

“We had arrested liquor mafia Prabhat Chaudhary after pursuing him for around six months with the help of the special task force. He was sent to jail. His case was to be heard today so he was brought here to be produced before the court. Four unidentified persons targeted him and opened fire. He took a bullet in his leg and is out of danger,” Samastipur superintendent of police Vinay Tiwari told reporters.

The SP added that another person who was with Chaudhary was also injured in the firing.

Acknowledging that the hitmen had to run around 50 metres to escape from the court premises, the SP accepted that there were lapses in security at the court.

“The miscreants would not have escaped had the police personnel manning the entrance shut the gates in time after hearing the sound of firing. We will probe this aspect also and take action against our personnel if they are found to have been irresponsible,” Tiwari said.