Uttarakhand police team which had grilled the gangster Amit Malik alias ‘Bhura’ in Patiala (Punjab) after he had been arrested on Saturday have learnt that he had attempted escape from police custody twice earlier while being taken to courts in Uttar Pradesh.

However, his escape bids proved abortive then as police escorting Bhura to the courts used to change the routes frequently. On December 15, last year, police did the same but his armed aides chased the police and finally caught them at a crossing near the court in Baghpat. The gangsters managed to give the armed escort of Bhura, a slip by reportedly throwing chili powder in the eyes of the cops.

However, varying reports are pouring in from Uttarakhand police about how Bhura had been apprehended by Punjab police. A police officer said Punjab police personnel had been hunting for a criminal in connection with an ATM loot case.

It was a chance that they had stepped on the notorious gangster. However, another section told a different story.

According to it, Bhura had surrendered before Punjab police of his own volition in fear of being killed by the aides of notorious Cheenu Pandit. This was because he had no case tagged to him in Punjab.

“May be, the politicians whose errands he acted on advised him to surrender in Punjab,” a police officer said. 

Another section gave a completely different version of the matter, saying he was arrested while he was scuffling with some over his girlfriend.

Punjab police secured five days’ police remand for Bhura on Monday. After the term expires, Uttarakhand police would file a petition, seeking Bhura’s police remand in the court.

Uttarakhand DGP BS Sidhu said STF team has been directed to secure police remand of Bhura from the court in Punjab. After securing his police remand, Uttarakhand police would try to recover the SlR rifle and AK-47 rifles snatched by Bhura’s accomplices during the escapade from Baghpat.

Sources said that apart from Uttarakhand police, Delhi police and Uttar Pradesh police too would seek his police remand from the Punjab court.