BHOPAL: In an embarrassment to city police, two alleged burglars in the custody of Chhola Mandir police station, escaped on early Saturday morning after opening their handcuffs. The police station does not have a lock-up and the accused are made to sit in a room.
The two accused, who are habitual offenders, opened their handcuffs with keys kept inside a room in police station and escaped. While all this was taking place, a policeman responsible to keep an eye on them, was allegedly busy talking on his mobile phone.
CCTV cameras at the police station captured images of the accused when they were escaping from the police station. Upon learning about the incident, officials suspended three policemen of the police station, including two assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) and a constable.
A notice was also served to the station house officer of Chhola Mandir police station. Police said teams were formed to catch hold the accused. Besides, an inquiry was initiated to ascertain the circumstances that led to their escape.
The accused, identified as Irfan, 48 and Anwar, 40, were from the gang of burglars, who were arrested in Nishatpura area a few days back. Accused were members of the gang that committed around 21 thefts in the past one and a half years. Burgled valuables worth Rs 12 lakh were recovered from the gang. The duo were taken on remand by Chhola Mandir police to question them on burgled goods reported from their respective area.
Police said they were to be produced in a court on Saturday after end of the remand term. The three, who faced action are ASIs Amar Singh and Bhogiram Suryavanshi and constable Arvind. The incident took place between 3 am and 4 am on Saturday.
The keys of the handcuffs were reportedly kept in a wrapped blanket. Accused got access to it, opened the handcuffs and escaped.
City superintendent of police, Lokesh Sinha said the accused are habitual offenders and are involved in a number of burglaries. The accused left the handcuffs, used to tie them at the police station while escaping.
The duo lives in old city and have families, Sinha said, adding that they would be nabbed soon.
The accused are friends and committed burglaries together. A cash reward would also be declared on their arrest, if not nabbed soon, police said, adding there was no other accused in the room from where they managed to escape.
