Man flees from custody, mob ransacks police station

Last Saturday, Bhim Turha, Vinay Singh, Chandan Kharwar and Chhotu Yadav were arrested while they were trying to enter UP border.

On December 29, Bhim Turha (25) and the other accused had booked a Scorpio vehicle — belonging to one Shamim in Reoti — to go to Agrauli village in Haldi. Brijesh Gond (28), also a resident of Reoti, was driving the vehicle. Shamim lost contact with Brijesh the next day.

When searches proved futile, he reported the matter to the Reoti police station on December 31.

Investigation led to the recovery of Brijesh’s body near a railway line in Arah district in Bihar, while the Scorpio was found parked in a garage known to the accused in the New Bhojpur area. Following this, the four were arrested on Saturday.

On Sunday, Turha — who had a dowry death case pending against him — escaped on the pretext of answering nature’s call. As the word about his escape spread, Brijesh’s wife Kavita and sister Rani, besides locals, reached the police station. An argument reportedly ensued, following which, the mob became restive.

“They hurled stones and brought down a portion of the boundary wall of the police station. The second floor was also damaged. Reoti Inspector Shiv Mangal Singh and three other policemen were injured. They were rushed to community health centre, where their condition was reported to be stable,” said a senior police officer.

He added: “The police had to fire a few rounds in air in self-defence to keep the mob at bay. Later, additional forces were rushed to the spot and the situation was brought under control. A couple of police vehicles were also damaged.”

On Monday, the police arrested Brijesh’s brother Santosh Gond and father Dashrath alias Maina Gond, and two others — Chandan Kumar and Pankaj Pathak. Booked for rioting and causing injury, the accused have been sent to jail. Ballia SP Raju Babu Singh has also ordered a probe into Turha’s escape.

“Preliminary inquiry has revealed that Turha was not kept in the lock-up alongwith other accused as they were arrested with his help. He was handcuffed and kept in the police station’s office. In the morning, he managed to flee though he was still handcuffed,” said Singh.
“More personnel should have been deployed. A formal probe report is awaited before any action against those responsible is taken,” he added.

Singh claimed that women, including Brijesh’s wife and sister, involved in the rioting were being identified and will be arrested. Meanwhile, a case of undertrial escaping from police custody has been lodged against Turha.