Sleeping on duty: Murder suspect escapes custody

Nehmatullah managed to remove his handcuffs and escaped when five policemen were sleeping on duty

MANSEHRA:

An injured Afghan refugee, under arrest for murder, escaped from King Abdullah Teaching Hospital Mansehra on Sunday while the policemen guarding him were asleep. After the incident, police arrested six policemen for negligence. A City police official told journalists that Nehmatullah, an Afghan refugee living in Jhugiyan area of Abbottabad, was arrested three days back on charges of murdering Akmal Khan, a resident of Sheikhul Bandi. His suspected accomplices were also arrested.

Nehmatullah was injured during the arrest. For his security, police shifted him to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital Mansehra where he was under treatment.

Sunday morning, Nehmatullah managed to remove his handcuffs and escaped when five policemen deputed on his security were sleeping in the private room of the hospital. When they woke up, the policemen tried to find the accused but failed. However, on the orders of City DPO, criminal cases have been registered against constables Bilal, Muhammad Riaz, Yusuf and Zeeshan, sub inspector Manzoorur Rehman and duty in charge head constable Shahid and arrested them. They will be produced before the court of judicial magistrate on Monday (today). Meanwhile, the family members of Akmal protested at Dhobighat Chowk when they heard the news of Nehmatullah’s escape. They dispersed when they were told about the policemen’s arrest.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th,  2015.