Undertrial prisoner returning from court hearing escapes

Hubballi: An undertrial prisoner, lodged in Dharwad Central Jail, escaped from a moving KSRTC bus while he was returning after appearing before a court in Karwar.
The incident took place when the bus slowed down near KC Circle here at 10pm on Wednesday. Kumar, alias Gururaj Dodamani, took advantage of the situation and pushed the policemen escorting him before jumping off the window, beside the driver's seat. The window is said to be larger than others.

Two policemen, attached to Manki police station in Honnavar taluk, had escorted Kumar to the District and Sessions Court where he was produced Wednesday morning in connection with a dacoity case. They chased Kumar but the accused disappeared in the crowd.

Ashok, ASI, Sub-Urban Police station, Hubballi, told TOI that an alert has been sounded and Kumar will be nabbed soon. "He had given his residential address as Mullar Peth, Ballari, to mislead police, but he is actually from Hubballi city," said Ashok.

Dr Anita R, superintendent, Dharwad Central Jail, said that Kumar was brought to the prison on November 7, 2015, and was facing a 2 and half years jail term in connection with a theft case in Tumakuru. "This apart, he was also facing 11 other cases, including house theft cases, dacoity, assault and attempt to murder cases, in Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Gadag, Ballari and other districts.

He was facing a case under IPC 332 for assaulting and attacking government officials and an attempt to murder case.

A case has been registered at Sub-urban police station in Hubballi.