The Community Development Department (Kemas) has reopened its kindergarten in Ara Kuda here which was closed yesterday following a manhunt for seven fugitives who escaped from a police custody on Monday.

Kindergarten teacher Nor Haliza Othman said the kindergarten was reopened after the police gave assured her that the area was safe for it was under surveillance.

"I closed the kindergarten yesterday after some parents told me that the fugitives were believed to be hiding in this area, so I dared not take the risks, fearing that the children might be taken hostage.

"I contacted the police late yesterday afternoon and they assured me that the police had secured the area where the kindergarten is located.

"So I reopened the kindergarten today after informing the Kemas supervisor here," she said.

Nor Haliza called on parents not to worry about the safety of their children and she had also taken a precaution by locking all doors at the kindergarten.

Over 200 policemen had been deployed to track down the detainees who escaped after blinding their police escorts with chilli powder and hijacking the police van taking them to the Butterworth courts complex at about 9 am on Monday.