Whoever knowingly aids or assists any State prisoner or prisoner of war in escaping from lawful custody, or rescues or attempts to rescue any such prisoner, or harbours or conceals any such prisoner who has escaped from lawful custody, or offers or attempts to offer any resistance to the recapture of such prisoner, shall be punished with¹[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation.--A State prisoner or prisoner of war, who is permitted to be at large on his parole within certain limits in²[India], is said to escape from lawful custody if he goes beyond the limits within which he is allowed to be at large.

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1. Substituted by Act 26 of 1955, section 117 and Schedule, for "transportation for life" (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).

2. The words "British India" have successively been Substituted by the A.O. 1948, the A.O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, section 3 and Schedule to read as above