Two suspected murderers escaped from police lock-up of Rani Area Police Office in Biratnagar, on Thursday night.

Mohammad Arif, 21, and Mohammad Saddim Husen, 20, who were being detained in connection to the kidnap and murder of a teenage boy in September, had hacksawed the iron bars of a ventilation window to escape, Deputy Superintendent of Police Nishan Thapa of Morang District Police Office said.

DSP Thapa, who is heading a five-member team to investigate into the case, found on Friday that Arif and Husen had thrown a party at the beat office on Thursday evening.

The two suspects had bought food items worth nearly Rs 3,000 to feed the officers and other detainees, DSP Thapa said. Inspector Santosh Niraula, the incharge of the beat office, was on a leave and his deputy SI Dambar Thapa was in command.

Seven officers from Rani Area Police Office have been recalled to the DPO for questioning, while head constable duo Harilal Rauniyar and Jagannath Baske have been suspended for dereliction of duty.SP Manoj Kumar KC said the incident occurred as a result of negligence.

Arif and Husen were under investigation for the abduction and murder of 17-year-old Mohammad Asfak Alam of Biratnagar-17 on September 17.