Murder convict flees from police custody in HP

Una, Sep 6 (UNI) A convicted inmate escaped from police custody in Una district of Himachal Pradesh early today, minutes before he was to be produced before a fast track court for murdering another inmate in Una district jail a few years ago , police sources today said.

Amrish Rana escaped through a toilet ventilator at about 1045 hrs, while two policemen stood guard outside the toilet door after he had been brought here from Dharamshala jail early today.

The sources said the police men found Rana missing from the toilet 10 to 15 minutes later when they called him to come out, following which an alarm was raised.

Una SP Atul Fulzele confirmed that a tea vendor, close to the court complex, had told police officials that he saw Rana jumping from the toilet ventilator and later escaping in a red Maruti car, which was waiting for him.

Rana, already undergoing life imprisonment for a triple murder on the Una-Pirnigha road on September 10, 1999, was to be produced before the Una Fast Track Court here for murdering an inmate in Una jail a few years ago.

The sources said a police escort party comprising of ASI KK Kaushal, two head constables and eight constables had brought him from Dharamsala.

Mr Fulzele said the accused was always brought in a police escort to the court and managed to escaped when no escort vehicle was accompanying him since neither the Dharamsala jail authorities, nor the Kangra police provided them any prior information about his trial date.

The police have already sounded an alert in the state to prevent his escape to the neighbouring states and search teams have been dispatched to arrest him, he said.

The Una SP said a case under Sections 232 and 224 of the IPC have been registered against the police escort party for dereliction of duty.

Rana is also accused of murdering an inmate in Dharamshala jail, attacking five government officials, three cases of dacoity in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana besides other crimes.

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