Accused escapes through gap in lockup,raises alarm over lax repairs by PWD

 

 

 

An accused who escaped from the lockup at Ajni Police Station early Wednesday morning was caught in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, following a quick manhunt. The daring escape cast a harsh spotlight on a security flaw at the station: a gap in the lockup railing and slab that the prisoner exploited to make his getaway. Despite the police’s earlier attempts to address the issue by requesting repairs from the Public Works Department (PWD), the work was delayed, partly due to the Diwali celebrations. Now, questions are being raised about the consequences of the oversight by the PWD. The accused, Mohammad Irfan Samshad Ansari (20), a resident of Ambe Nagar, Pardi, was being held in police custody in connection with several criminal activities, including a recent theft during the Navratri festival. He had been arrested by the Ajni Police on Tuesday after a production warrant was obtained in relation to his involvement in the theft of cash from a Durga Pandal near Jadu Mahal in Ajni.

 

Irfan was previously arrested for multiple serious cases, including robbery, rape, and burglary, with a criminal record spanning four years. Irfan’s escape occurred around 5 am on Wednesday, when the lockup guard briefly left his post to use the washroom. During this brief window of time, Irfan managed to escape through a gap between the bars and the slab of the lockup. By the time the constable returned, Irfan had vanished. The police quickly informed Sr Police Inspector Nitinchandra Rajkumar and launched a search operation, the police said. Investigations revealed that Irfan had managed to change his clothes and fled the police station to meet his girlfriend. Acting quickly, the police began questioning his family members, who provided key information about his possible escape route. They learned that Irfan was likely trying to board a train and escape the region, said police officials. A police team was dispatched to the nearest railway station, where it was confirmed that Irfan had boarded the Sanghamitra Express.

 

The police tracked his movements, and after getting off the train at the outer part of Itarsi station, Irfan continued his escape by boarding the Bagmati Express in an attempt to return to Nagpur. With the coordinated effort between Ajni Police and Railway Protection Force (RPF), the manhunt ended with his capture at Betul station. It was later revealed that the gap through which Irfan escaped was a known issue. The space between the bars and the slab had been flagged as a security problem, and the PWD had been notified. However, efforts to seal the gap were delayed due to the Diwali festivities. Officials said that Irfan was using the phones of fellow passengers to communicate with his associates.