Notorious criminal Awadhesh Mandal, who made the headlines two days ago after escaping from Maranga police station in Purnia district, was arrested again and was handcuffed and tied with rope.
Police said Mandal with his three associates was arrested from a hideout at Parbatta in Naugachhia district in the wee hours of Wednesday.
Accused in over 50 cases of all kinds of heinous crimes, Mandal is husband of Rupauli JD(U) MlA Bima Bharti, who also served as Minister in the Nitish Kumar and the Jitan Ram Manjhi Cabinet, and known as uncrowned king of underworld.
Mandal had been arrested and brought to Maranga police station on Sunday night from where he escaped as over his 50 supporters besides MlA wife and Purnia JD(U) MP Awadhesh Kushwaha stormed the police station and helped him escape.
The incident put a big question mark on the rule of law and hugely embarrassed the beleaguered Nitish Kumar Government. The Opposition was highly critical alleging that ruling party MlAs were taking law into their hands.
The escape of Mandal also pressurised Purnia SP Nishant Kumar Tiwary who took this incident as a challenge and left no stone unturned to locate the absconder. Several police teams had been constituted to conduct raids at all possible hideouts. From Parbatta, he and his three associates Manish Kumar, Subodh Mandal and Saurabh Kumar were brought to Purnia.
Additional Director General (law & order) Sunil Kumar said, “Mandal was arrested today at 3 am from a hideout in Parbatta and brought to Purnia. We are trying to find out the role of some people who allegedly helped him escape from police station on Monday. The role of Rupauli MlA and Purnia MP is also under scanner and nobody will escape action.
According to reports when Mandal had been brought to Maranga police station after being arrested for threatening a woman in connection with a case of the murder of her husband ten years back allegedly by Mandal. The gangster’s wife and Purnia MP Kushwaha with their supporters stormed the Maranga police station and created a ruckus there. In the melee Mandal managed to escape allegedly in the red beacon fitted vehicle of his wife.
On Wednesday, when Mandal and his associates were brought to Purnia by the police there was not a single person, not even his wife, came to see him. On earlier occasions the gangster whenever brought to police station would be extended courtesy by the police with many cops taking selfie with the criminal, accused in murder, kidnapping, extortion, rape and other crimes, and serving him tea and snacks. After his escape the SHO of Maranga police station was suspended by the SP and recommended action against a DSP.