An 18-year-old man, accused of allegedly raping a minor girl, escaped from police custody in Surajpur district on Tuesday, police said.
Six police personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector, have been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty in this connection, an official said.
Suraj Vishwakarma, a resident of Ramnagar village, was arrested on Monday evening for kidnapping and raping a 17- year-old girl, Surajpur superintendent of police Rajesh Kukreja said.
The accused, who was lodged in a lock-up at Kotwali police station, escaped at around 5 am on Tuesday when six policemen who were on security duty allegedly fell asleep, he said.
Vishwakarma was to be produced in court on Tuesday, the senior official said, adding that a massive manhunt has been launched to nab him.
Meanwhile, the six policemen from the Kotwali police station have been suspended and a departmental enquiry has been ordered against them, Kukreja added.
According to information received, a youth, Suraj Vishwakarma booked under section 363, 366 of the IPC, read with section 376(2)-f, 376(2)-g of IPC, The Protection of Children form Sexual Offences Act, 2012 section 6 and SC, ST Act section 3(1-b)(1), 3 (2-5) was brought to Surapur Kotwali police station on Monday evening.
He had eloped with a minor girl and was apprehended by police. The girl was handed over to Sakhi Centre while the youth was booked and was to be produced before the court on Tuesday.