Thief escapes from police custody

NEWDELHI: A thief, who was sent to one-day police custody by a city court, escaped from the barracks of the Chhawla police station on Thursday. Senior police officers said efforts were being made to trace the thief.

According to senior police officers, the accused, identified as Rahul alias Poli, was brought to Chhawla police station on a day’s remand on Thursday.

Police said that the man escaped when a constable, who was keeping an eye on him, left the barrack i n which the accused was lodged, for a minute.

“The accused was arrested by assistant sub-inspector Vijender from Chhawla village in a theft case. He was made to sit in barrack number 4 of the police station. One constable Sandeep was keeping an eye on him. It was just for a minute that the constable left the barrack. When he returned, Rahul could not be seen anywhere. He alerted the ASI and other officers and a search was launched,” said a senior police officer who did not wish to be named.

CCTV footage was being checked and nearby police stations had also been alerted. Raids were underway and efforts to nab the accused again were being made, the officer said.

Deputy commissioner of police (Dwarka), Shibesh Singh could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.

In April, a man accused in a double murder case escaped from police custody while he was being taken to Amethi. The incident took place on their way between Lucknow and Amethi. The accused, Sandeep Kumar, was charged with double murder in Chhawla.

In February this yeara , member of a dreaded criminal gang escaped from police custody after his accomplices threw chilli powder on guards who were accompanying him to a hospital in Daryaganj.