BEIJING: The head of a prison in northern China has been dismissed after four inmates killed a guard and escaped, leading to a manhunt with thousands of police, state media reported Saturday.

The four inmates, all serving life sentences, fled the regional capital Hohhot's No. 2 Prison in a stolen taxi, leading to a manhunt involving 6,000 police and security officers.

Police shot and killed one of the convicts and captured the other three Tuesday in a small township in Helin county after they hijacked a rural wagon and took a hostage, according to state media.

Four other officials have been suspended from the prison, the Beijing News newspaper said.