Criminal escapes from custody following attack on police team

KANPUR: A rape convict and a hardened criminal managed to escape from police custody in Kanpur allegedly with the help of BJP supporters, who had gathered at a birthday party thrown by party’s district secretary Narayan Bhadauria on Wednesday.

The party was organised at a guest house, in violation of the Covid-19 protocol, said police officials.

Bhadauria and many other partymen allegedly attacked the cops and came before the police jeep carrying Manoj Singh, who has 27 criminal cases against him. He is out on parole granted by the high court.

He managed to escape as the supporters stormed the police vehicle from behind.

Additional DCP Kanpur South Basant Lal said the police were investigating the incident and had registered a case under appropriate sections against named and unnamed persons. “Police were conducting the raids to arrest the criminal,” he said.

BJP south unit president Beena Arya said she was aware of controversy surrounding the South unit secretary Narayan Bhadauria. “On my part, I am going for a full-scale inquiry and whosoever role is established would be punished,” she said.

According to eyewitnesses, the BJP leader had thrown a party at Aakarshan guest house in Naubasta to celebrate his birthday. While the permission is for 25 people, more than 150 people were in the party.

According to Lal, the police conducted the raid acting on a tip off about the presence of Singh and two other criminals Vikas Tiwari and Raj Pandey, who are also out on parole.

The team managed to take Singh into custody and as the police vehicle was about to move several people blocked its way and helped the criminal escape.

Taking the advantage of this situation, Vikas Tiwari and Raj Pandey also escaped from the guest house.

Bhadauria denied any involvement in the entire case and said he did not know the people who helped the criminal escape.

“My presence is natural as I organised the party and I was there to cut the cake; I did not participate in any such activity,” he said.

Cops attacked, injured by mining mafia in Chitrakoot

Three policemen were injured when the police patrolling team came under attack from the mining mafia in Chitrakoot on Thursday morning.

The constables Narendra Singh, Pankaj Yadav and Deepak Kumar were beaten up and their motorcycles were damaged. All the three have been admitted to a community health centre, said the police.

SP Chitrakoot Ankit Mittal said that 12 persons were taken into custody and raids were going on to search others. “FIR has been registered under serious sections and condition of constables was stable,” he said.

Patrolling team went to Mamsi ghat in Pahadi police station area on learning about the sand being mined illegally and transported on multiple bullock-carts. As the cops started making videos, the mafia and the men turned on the constables and beat them up.

“Several bullock-carts were stacked up with illegally mined sand and video was being made to identify the people behind it,” said Mittal. Police personnel from several police stations were rushed to Mamsi ghat. The cops arrested several people who were trying to flee the scene.