In what turned out to be an escape inspired from a Bollywood movie, four men, suspected to be members of the Neeraj Bawana gang, reportedly threw chilly powder at the three policemen and took away a prisoner who was being ferried after a medical check up at the Maulana Azad Medical College and hospital on Monday morning.
The four men, first threw chilly powder at the three policemen from the Third Battalion of the Delhi Armed Police. After which, the policemen opened fire at them yet they fled along with the prisoner, convicted in a murder case in the Mandoli Jail.
In light of this act, the police persons escorting the Under Trial Prisoner have been suspended. An FIR has been registered and further investigation is under process,” said a senior police officer from the Third Battalion.
In the aftermath of this daring escape, the national Capital has been put on high alert and vigil at border areas have been tightened.
Confirming the incident, DCP (Third Battalion) DKS Singh said, “Under Trial Prisoner Sanjay alias Dhillu was convicted in a murder case and was lodged in Mandoli jail. He had visited the OPD of Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences for treatment on February 9 and was advised to visit again on February 19.
On Monday, the under trial prisoner was brought to the hospital under the supervision of Assistant Sub Inspector Braj Mohan, Assistant Sub Inspector Naresh Pal and Head Constable Yogender in an Eeco Van provided by the Jail Authorities,”Singh said. “At 11:20 am when Sandeep, along with police guard, was coming out of hospital after consulting the doctor, his associates threw chilli powder in the eyes of the police personnel and managed to free Sanjay from police custody. Police party fired four rounds, but they managed to escape.”
Sandeep was arrested in 2015 over charges of murder and assault.
He was brought to Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) for a dental check-up after being referred from the doctors of Mandoli jail, where he was lodged for past two years.
A senior police officer, said, “At MAMC, while Braj Mohan and Yogendra took Dhillu to the doctor, Naresh Pal waited in the vehicle parked outside. Around 11:30 am when the two cops stepped out of the hospital building and were heading towards the police vehicle, four men appeared on two motorcycles and threw chilli powder on Mohan and Yogendra,”
Taken aback, as the two cops lost vision temporarily, Sandeep got himself free of their hold and fled towards one of the bikes. As passersby tried to intervene, the two men on bike flashed arms and opened fire warning of dire consequences. “Seeing armed men, the policemen opened fire as ASI Naresh Pal also joined the two cops.
In exchange of fire, at least seven rounds were fired, four of which were fired by the police. However, the four men along with Dhillu, managed to flee,” the officer said, adding that no one was injured in the firing. The two policemen had to be taken to the hospital for a treatment and were soon released.
Other senior officers from the district confirmed that the city has been put on high alert and vigil, specially on border areas, at railway stations, bus terminals and airport has been tightened.
“Efforts to nab the escapee are being made. CCTV footages are also being checked to ascertain sequence of incident. A special team has been formed to trace his suspected movements and strong leads have been collected. Raids are being conducted at their possible hideouts,” an officer said.