District police have come up with a new plan to prevent criminals escaping from the civil court.

East Champaran superintendent of police (SP) Ganesh Kumar has asked the station house officers (SHOs) of three police stations — Town, Mufassil and Chhatauni — to keep a strict eye on criminals taken to court for trial as well as on the personnel accompany- ing them.

Sources said constables who escort prisoners to civil courts for trials would have to face the music if they allow the inmate in their custody to loiter.

The exact nature of the punishment was not disclosed, but sources said senior police officers decided in a meeting to deal sternly with such constables.

Besides court, the conduct of policemen outside the prisons would also be monitored.

Sources said the authorities concerned woke up to the issue of allowing prisoners to move around freely on court premises after a notorious criminal, Rajan Sahni, escaped on April 2.

Sahni, accused in a dozen criminal cases, including murder, loot and extortion, managed to flee after hitting the constable escorting him on the head.

Five accomplices of Sahni, who were present on the court premises where he had been brought for a hearing, helped him in his escape bid.

Police sources told The Telegraph that this was not the maiden incident of its kind.

Earlier, too, several such incidents had occurred.

For smooth execution of the new surveillance plan, the duty has been divided among the three police stations.

On Monday and Tuesday, the Town police station would keep an eye out.

Mufassil and Chhatauni police stations would be responsible for the other four days.

Members of the police teams would also keep a watch on the family members or associates of the undertrial prisoners.

Visitors to jails would also be under the surveillance of the police.

Sources said Sadar deputy SP Sushant Kumar Saroj has been made responsible for keeping a tab on the day-to-day reports of the surveillance teams.

The SHOs concerned would report to him directly.

Saroj told The Telegraph: “The police have already started this new exercise. We want to prevent a repeat of such offences.”

He added: “With this exercise, we will be able to prevent criminals from escaping from court premises.”