Guwahati, May 1 -- A serious lapse in prison security and procedure has surfaced in Mizoram, where 16 inmates from Lunglei district jail were allegedly released using fake court release papers over a four-month period, police said on Thursday.

The issue is said to have begun in January this year but came to light only last week when officials at the Lunglei District and Sessions Court were unable to find any official records supporting the release of some prisoners. This triggered suspicion, following which a police case was registered on April 25.

Lunglei Superintendent of Police Jerome Lalmuankima said that a coordinated search operation was launched immediately after the irregularity was discovered. He confirmed that 13 of the releas...