An undertrial inmate lodged in Tihar Jail escaped from police custody on Monday morning while he was being taken to Sonipat for hearing.
The inmate identified as, Deepak Dabas Majra, was facing around a half-a-dozen cases, including charges like attempt to murder and robbery in Delhi and in Haryana, a Tihar jail official said.
He escaped from the custody of the third battalion of Delhi Armed Police, which is entrusted with transportation of undertrials between prison and courts.
The incident took place at 10:43am when a Tata 407 allotted to the Third Battalion for ferrying under-trial prisoners to and from the court back to the jail, stopped at the red light at the Bawana Bazaar area.
Taking advantage of the crowd at the red light in the busy market area of Outer Delhi, the prisoner fled from the clutches of the constable sitting with him at the back seat of the vehicle.
“Majra was being taken to the Kharkhoda district court for hearing in a case. On way to the court, the vehicle stopped at the Bawana Bazaar red light. He jumped from the car and fled towards the crowd,” said senior Delhi Police official.
Meanwhile, third battalion officers who were in charge of his custody are being questioned by Delhi Police senior officials. “We are questioning the policemen who were present inside the police vehicle to ascertain the exact sequence of the incident,” said a senior officer.
Another case was registered against the accused in Bawana police station and further investigation is underway.