Constable escapes from custody

Jagdalpur, Jan 8 (UNI) A police constable, caught indulging in criminal activities, has escaped from police custody from Antagarh in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh yesterday.

Constable Vijay Salam faces charges of extortion while posing as a naxalite when he was posted in Naryanpur earlier. He attempted to extort Rs 50,000 from Palki village Sarpanch.

On January 5, Salam and his accomplice looted at gunpoint Rs 30,000 from two cloth merchants Mangilal Jain and Premchand Lodha, who were returning by a vehicle from the Koyalibeda weekly market in Kanker district. Salam was caught under suspicious circumstances yesterday and Rs 23,000 recovered from him, Narayanpur Superintendent of Police Sunderraj said.

While Salam was being taken to Antagarh to effect the arrest of his accomplice, he gave a slip and escaped from police custody at Antagarh bus stand.

Disciplinary action will be taken against the police team which accompanied Salam, Mr Sunderraj said.

UNI