Suspect rearrested after escape

Police say suspect escaped from hospital after deceiving cops

HARIPUR:

A robbery suspect, who was wanted by the Punjab Police in several cases of heinous nature, escaped while under the custody of Haripur police in an injured condition on Monday night. However, he was later rearrested after police authorities swung into action in early hours of Tuesday.

Taking notice of the incident, the district police chief suspended from service four police officers on duty and ordered the registration of a case against them.

Sources in the police department said that the injured suspect identified as Nasir of Gujranwala was arrested during a police encounter on Rangeela Road by the City police on May 26. The dangerous dacoit was wanted by the Punjab Police in various cases including theft and robbery.

The accused was under treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital last night from where he escaped from police custody by 'deceiving' some on duty cops, the sources added.

Soon after his escape, the police cordoned off the entire district to arrest the absconding accused. According to the sources, the DPO issued orders to his subordinate police officers to arrest the accused within 24 hours, otherwise they would also be suspended.

All border routes were closed afterwards by the field police teams and the accused was finally rearrested near Taxila in the last hour of the night, the sources added. On the re-arrest of the accused, reliable sources claimed that the accused was escaped from the police custody due to the local facilitator.

Due to the strong reaction of the DPO, the accused was brought back to the limits of Haripur district through the local facilitator because the accused was seriously injured after the police encounter and could not escape from the hospital in the custody of the police alone.

When contacted, the Haripur police spokesperson said that the accused is a history sheeter as at least 10 cases was registered against him in Haripur, Kamoke (Gujranwala) and Lahore police stations.